HYDERABAD (January 14 2004): The Sindh government has decided to auction all the agriculture marketing committees in the province following massive financial irregularities, loot and corruption unearthed during a regional meeting resulting in suspension of over a dozen officials and warning to others.

Most of these market committees despite enormous potential at their command were running in deficit since their establishment on account of financial mismanagement.

This can be judged by their annual reports, which indicate a total income of 714,29,626 while the non-development expenditure stands at Rs 644,43,823 showing a net profit of Rs 6.985 million but it has been observed that more often the committees were shown in deficit by transferring the income to development sides, which also includes purchases of luxury cars and meeting the desires of their high-ups.

The market committees' failure in reimbursing or rescheduling Rs 284.295 million loan of the Asian Development Bank granted for modernising the present agriculture marketing system further confirm the ineptness and corruption of the market committee managers.

So far 13 market committees of Hyderabad, Thatta, and Mirpurkhas districts have been auctioned for Rs 16.457 annually showing 75 to 100 percent increase while the auction of market committees of Sanghar, Dadu and Nawabshah districts are in progress.

The Director General Research and Agriculture Extension, Muhammad Akram Malik, who is personally supervising the auction process, told Business Recorder that the completion of auction of 68 market committees would not only check corruption but also help minimise the liquidity problems.

In response to a question he said contractors would not be allowed to set up tax collection posts on roads and they have been asked that they should charge the market fee at the market.

WHEAT FLOUR SHORTAGE: Political activist are out to exploit the volatile situation of wheat flour shortage in Dadu district by pursuing small grinding units to stage a protest strike following the suspension of the District Food Controller on charges of irregularity and mismanagement.

Former food vigilance officer Salimullah Siddique, who has taken over the charge of the District Food Controller Dadu, when contacted, told Business Recorder that immediate steps have been taken to normalise the situation and no less than nine fair price shops have been set up at Dadu, K N Shah, Bhan Shewan, Meher, Johi, Kotri and Jamshoro where 10 Kg bag is available at the price of Rs 110 bag.

He conceded that there is a shortage of wheat but unfortunately, the situation has blown out of proportion by the vested interest to create unrest amongst the general public.

Courtesy Business Recorder