Nearly 47,000 bags filled with wheat, valued at approximately Rs800 million, have been reported missing from several warehouses belonging to the Sindh Food Department in the Khairpur district, as per a report by 24 News HD TV channel on Tuesday.
In response to the alarming discovery, authorities swiftly took action, suspending three government officials, including the district food controller and supervisors, pending further investigation.
The discrepancy in the wheat inventory came to light during a routine physical check conducted by officials from the Food Department. The inspection revealed a staggering shortage of 47,000 wheat bags across multiple storage facilities in Khairpur, including locations like Sitharja, Gumbat, Thari Mir Wah, Choundko, and Sikandarabad.
Confirming the incident, the District Food Department disclosed that the stolen wheat bags were estimated to be worth Rs800 million collectively.
This recent occurrence echoes a similar incident in 2022 when a significant quantity of wheat vanished from Sindh government warehouses in Naushehro Feroze.
Furthermore, addressing the issue of wheat procurement, the Sindh cabinet, in a meeting held at the CM House on March 20, set a target of procuring 900,000 tonnes of wheat. The meeting, attended by various provincial ministers, advisors, and officials, featured discussions led by the new Chief Secretary Asif Hyder Shah, Advocate General, and Prosecutor General.