The case of wheat spoilage worth Rs10 billion in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has taken a new turn as it emerges that district food officers from 24 districts had warned the provincial Food Directorate in advance. Despite early alerts in April 2023 about the short shelf life of imported wheat, no preventive measures were taken, raising questions about mismanagement and negligence.
In April 2023, district food officers wrote a formal letter to the Food Directorate, warning that imported wheat has a shorter shelf life and requires immediate attention.
The letter emphasized the urgency of taking proactive steps to protect the wheat stock, but no action was taken.
Approximately 77,762 metric tons of wheat, stored in various warehouses across the province, has now been deemed unfit for human consumption.
Laboratory tests by the Pakistan Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (PCSIR) confirmed the spoilage.
Food Minister Zahir Shah Toru admitted during a provincial assembly session that the wheat had spoiled and initial tests confirmed its unsuitability for consumption.
Further tests are being conducted, but opposition members criticized the Food Directorate for gross negligence.
Efforts to sell the spoiled wheat to flour mills were unsuccessful as mill owners refused to purchase it, even at discounted prices, citing health risks.
Opposition leaders have accused the Food Department of mishandling the situation and incurring a massive financial loss.They demand transparency and accountability to prevent future incidents of mismanagement
Dr. Khalid Mehmood, an agricultural scientist, explained,
Imported wheat, especially in climates like Pakistan’s, has a shorter shelf life due to humidity and temperature fluctuations. It requires state-of-the-art storage facilities with proper ventilation and pest control mechanisms. Unfortunately, our infrastructure often falls short.He further stated that preventive measures, such as using hermetic storage bags or modern silos, could have mitigated the losses.
Farmer associations have also expressed concerns about the spillover effects. They said that When wheat stocks are mishandled, it drives up prices for consumers and reduces demand for fresh produce from local farmers.This impacts the entire agricultural ecosystem.which could disproportionately affect low-income families.
This scandal has not only exposed the inefficiencies within the Food Department but also raised concerns about food security and resource management in the province. Calls for systemic reforms to safeguard public resources and prevent similar crises in the future are growing louder.
