Staff Reporter
Lahore
The police confiscated a large amount of illegally stocked wheat and rice from multiple warehouses in Punjab’s Mandi Bahauddin, Chiniot and Jhelum. The district administration of Mandi Bahauddin, in an operation, seized a total of 37,000 bags of wheat from 10 factories in the district. According to the deputy commissioner, the warehouses have been sealed and cases have been registered against the owners.
“The wheat was worth Rs10 million,” he added. On the other hand, in three different investigations, the police seized 6,500 bags of wheat and 3,900 of rice in Chiniot. In Jhelum, the police found 197 tonnes of rice in a warehouse in Gala Mandi Dina. The owner has been arrested, his factory sealed and a fine of Rs100,000 imposed. A three-member committee has been formed by the government to crack down on hoarders across the province.
Food grain department confiscated 2000 maund wheat going to be smuggled at Rahimyar Khan here on Saturday. In line with special directives of Deputy Commissioner (DC) Agha Zaheer Abbas Sherazi, the food department working on a tip of special branch, conducted raid at Niazi Chowk and captured a truck loaded with 2000 maund wheat. The wheat was going to be smuggled at Rahimyar Khan, food department sources said. Food department officials said that the wheat has been confiscated and unloaded it at the wheat procurement centre.
The Sindh government earlier decided to seal its border with Balochistan, in a bid to stop wheat smuggling from the province The Sindh Food department has issued stern directives for the regional deputy directors, district food controllers and other concerned staff to meet the target. The procurement of wheat started from March 26 and so far 40 per cent of the target has been achieved. Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah not happy with the performance of the department so far.
Last month, District administration Ghotki foiled a bid to smuggle wheat from Sindh to Punjab and confiscated 20 loaded trawlers of wheat from Obaro. Report said the Deputy Commissioner Ghotki Lt. (retd) Muhammad Khalid Saleem on tip-off of smuggling wheat from Sindh to Punjab, ordered Mukhtiarkar Obaro to take action.
The Mukhtiarkar Obaro along with the police foiled the attempt to smuggle wheat from Sindh to Punjab and confiscated 20 loaded containers at Obaro. The district food officer Ghotki said the impounded wheat was shifted to Sindh Food department’s godowns, saying the wheat was being sent to Punjab illegally.
