PM Shehbaz Suspends PASSCO Officers Over Wheat Procurement Negligence

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif took decisive action on Monday, directing the suspension of two Pakistan Agricultural Storage & Services Corporation (PASSCO) officers due to their negligence in wheat procurement from farmers.

In a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, attended by key officials including Federal Ministers Muhammad Aurangzeb, Rana Tanveer Hussain, Ahad Khan Cheema, and Jam Kamal Khan, as well as Minister of State Shaza Fatima Khawaja and Prime Minister’s Coordinator Rana Ehsan Afzal, the Prime Minister expressed dissatisfaction with the failure to implement technology in the wheat procurement process.

The Prime Minister’s directive included the suspension of PASSCO’s Managing Director and General Manager Procurement for their failure to adhere to technology usage instructions and for negligence in their duties.

During the meeting, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif questioned why a mobile application had not been developed for wheat purchasing processes. He emphasized the urgent need for a mobile app to streamline wheat procurement and ordered a third-party audit of PASSCO’s stock.

Shehbaz Sharif stressed the importance of leveraging technology to ensure transparency in wheat procurement and guaranteeing insurance for farmers’ financial security. Additionally, he instructed PASSCO to procure an additional 0.4 million metric tonnes of wheat transparently and efficiently.

Addressing the meeting participants, the Prime Minister affirmed the government’s commitment to the welfare of farmers and underscored the imperative of ensuring food security. He pledged vigorous efforts to support farmers’ development and prosperity, promising recognition for PASSCO centers and officers demonstrating exemplary performance.