Sindh Food Minister Makhdoom Mehboob-uz-Zaman has said that not a single complaint was received during this year’s wheat procurement campaign in the province, attributing the success to the government’s decision to procure wheat directly from farmers holding the Hari Cards and to implement a transparent payment mechanism.
In a statement, the food minister said that for the first time, wheat was purchased directly from registered cultivators through the Hari Card system, ensuring that genuine farmers benefitted from the procurement process. He added that payments were made directly and transparently through the Sindh Bank significantly enhancing the farmers’ confidence in the system and eliminating chances for irregularities.
Zaman said the provincial government had also abolished the traditional bardana (gunny bag) procurement system and incorporated its cost into the official wheat support price. He noted that the previous bardana culture had long been associated with complaints, administrative irregularities, corruption and a negative public perception, while the new policy had effectively removed such concerns.
Highlighting the ongoing reforms, he announced that the complete digitisation of the food department remained a key government priority and a major development in this regard would be unveiled soon.
Wheat procurement, payments, stock management and financial operations were being integrated with modern digital platforms to ensure transparency, efficiency and effective monitoring at every stage from the farmers’ registration to wheat release, he said.
The food minister further stated that the department was pursuing a zero-tolerance policy against corruption, embezzlement and financial irregularities. He disclosed that action had been taken against 100 officers and employees allegedly involved in wheat-related corruption and theft. Of these, 20 officials had been dismissed from service, 21 suspended, while show-cause proceedings continued against 61 others.
He added that criminal cases would also be registered against individuals found involved in corrupt practices. Referring to food safety initiatives, Zaman said the Sindh Food Authority was taking effective measures to ensure the provision of safe and quality food to the public. He noted that digital inspections, e-challans and advanced monitoring systems were being introduced to strengthen the food safety regime.
He also revealed that food surveillance activities were being expanded through a modern food testing laboratory in Sukkur and mobile testing laboratories operating in different parts of the province. The food minister reiterated that ensuring food safety and maintaining transparency in public service delivery remained among the Sindh government’s foremost priorities.
