The recent incidents of wheat going missing from warehouses in Sindh province have surged, leading to a substantial loss of wheat worth Rs. 810 million. As a result, three food officers have been removed from their positions.
Reports detail that the scarcity of wheat in Sindh’s storage facilities has adversely affected market prices. A recent government notification has confirmed the dismissals of two food supervisors and one assistant food controller, citing corruption involving the misappropriation of Rs. 810 million in wheat.
Specifically, Assistant Food Controller Muhammad Aqil was dismissed for his involvement in corruption amounting to Rs. 222.8 million. Food Inspector Faheem Azhar faced dismissal over Rs. 17.9 million, and Food Inspector Zulfiqar Ali Lakhair was removed for a substantial Rs. 572.5 million corruption case.
In May 2024, a major scandal was uncovered regarding the disappearance of 4,000 tons of wheat from provincial warehouses. The situation was exacerbated by the 2022 floods, which drastically reduced wheat production in Sindh and prompted large-scale wheat imports. Despite these measures, approximately 4,000 tons of wheat have reportedly been stolen from government warehouses over the past two years.
An inspection report from the Chief Minister’s team confirmed the Sindh Food Department staff’s collusion in these thefts. The report further revealed that wheat worth Rs. 3.22 billion had spoiled in the warehouses, underscoring the gravity of the situation.
These events underscore the urgent requirement for reform initiatives to guarantee food security and effective resource management in the province.
