According to an official letter sent by District Food Controller, Bannu, to Director Food Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in April 2026, a fresh inspection of Nar Hafizabad godowns revealed an additional shortage of 123.171 metric tons of wheat. Authorities said this is the fifth shortage report from the same reserve centre in recent months.
Following the latest reduction, the total wheat shortage at PRC Bannu has reached 391.176 metric tons.
Documents show 56.107 metric tons of wheat in 100 kg jute bags and 18.185 metric tons in 50 kg PP bags from godown number 8 were missing. Similarly, 25.727 metric tons from godown number 9 and 23.152 metric tons from godown number 3 were also found missing. All of this stock was officially recorded as PASSCO wheat.
A senior Food Department official told The News repeated shortage reports from a single centre are highly alarming. According to the official, earlier four reports had already indicated a missing quantity of around 268 metric tons, which has now risen to more than 391 metric tons after latest inspection.
In a separate case, a physical inspection at PRC Swat revealed 633.200 metric tons of wheat recorded under FG-3 (Procurement) could not be found during verification.
According to the inspection report submitted by Assistant Food Controller Swat, the verification was conducted on April 20, 2026, under official orders from District Food Controller Swat.
The inspection team physically verified wheat stock under FG-3 (Indigenous) at Takhtaband godowns numbers 3 and 4. The report stated godown number 3 contained 14,759 PP bags holding 743.905 metric tons of wheat, while godown number 4 contained 25,180 PP bags holding 1,280.295 metric tons of wheat. In total, 39,939 PP bags under FG-3 (Indigenous), weighing 2,024.200 metric tons, were found present. However, under FG-3 (Procurement), 12,421 PP bags recorded in official documents, amounting to 633.200 metric tons, were not found.
During the inspection, godowns 1, 2, 5, and 6 in Takhtaband, as well as all three godowns in Saidu Sharif, were found completely empty. The report further noted 18,521 bags stored in the warehouses were in severely deteriorated condition due to prolonged storage and were declared unfit for use.
Director Food Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Mohsin Iqbal told The News a post-wheat release audit has already been launched in all districts concerned, and special committees have been formed to investigate all reported cases.
He said deputy directors would submit reports containing findings of special committees as well as fact-finding reports. He further said if any suspicion, irregularity or illegal activity is identified, strict legal action will be taken.
He said the department is fully committed to ensuring any shortage or irregularity identified after submission of reports will be dealt with strictly in accordance with the law.
