Former Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar Denies Wrongdoing in Wheat Import Scandal, Willing to Cooperate with Investigation
Former caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar has refuted allegations of impropriety in the import of wheat, expressing readiness to participate in the inquiry regarding the excessive import of the staple crop, which led to a crisis in the country.
In an interview with a local TV channel on Sunday, Kakar stated, “I will appear before the wheat [inquiry] committee if it summons me.”
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif recently established an inquiry committee, chaired by Cabinet Division Secretary Kamran Afzal, to investigate the surplus wheat imports. The committee’s mandate includes identifying those responsible for importing wheat beyond demand and authorizing the opening of LCs after February.
Kakar, who now serves as a senator, clarified that no new legislation was introduced during his tenure to facilitate wheat imports. He emphasized that his government merely encouraged the private sector to engage in wheat importation to save taxpayers’ money.
Under the Statutory Regulatory Orders (SRO) issued during the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-led government, the private sector was permitted to import 6.91 million metric tonnes of wheat worth Rs57.192 billion in March.
The former prime minister highlighted that the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) estimated the country’s wheat requirement at 3 to 4 million metric tonnes.
Kakar dismissed allegations of corruption or misconduct in the wheat import process, likening them to fictional tales from his childhood.
The federal government faces challenges as provincial governments in Balochistan and Punjab struggle to purchase wheat from farmers due to excessive stock. Consequently, wheat is being sold below the official rate, posing a significant concern for farmers.
According to sources, the Ministry of National Food Security informed Prime Minister Shehbaz’s cabinet that 28.18 million tonnes of wheat were produced last year, prompting the caretaker government’s decision to import an additional 2.45 million tonnes.
It was reported that the additional wheat imports resulted in a loss of over Rs300 billion to the national exchequer.
