KARACHI (February 20 2004): Sindh government has constituted three enquiry committees in Food Department to conduct enquiries into misappropriation and shortage of wheat for the last four years.

The committees will furnish report thereof within a month.

The terms of reference for the committees are:

-- to find out the quantity of wheat shortage in Godowns of various regions after clearance of wheat stocks and the officials responsible for shortages along with the action required to be taken;

-- to find out illegal/irregular releases of quantity of wheat to flour mills and chakkies during the years 2000-2001, 2002-2003, 2003-2004, including to close mills/chakkies:

-- release of wheat crop 2001-2002 to grinders instead of crop 1999-2000 against government policy under Ramazan package of the year 2002;

-- allocation/release to new flour mills/chakkies and/or allocation and releases to additional bodies/stones in violation of government policy;

-- to check arrival of wheat stocks at godowns and issue of wheat stocks (crop wise) to flour mills and Atta chakkies;

-- whether or not wheat stocks (crop wise) stored properly in godowns and possible measures adopted or otherwise to safeguard the government properly;

-- to check purchase and issue of jute bags (bardana) of the year 2003 and balance in hand physically available or not;

-- recovery of shortage or misappropriation of previous years;

-- whether reconciliation of wheat stocks (monthly/quarterly) carried out or not;

-- whether internal audit of district and regional offices carried out by Sr. Accounts Officer of Directorate Food. If yes then observations made by him and compliance. If not, reasons of his failure to attend to this important task;

-- whether transparency was maintained in the award of transport contracts and rates were according to prevailing markets rates and to fix responsibility of the officers/officials and recommendation.

Courtesy Business Recorder