Islamabad:
The Federal Minister of Mad Rana Tanveer Hussain on Thursday revealed alleged corruption in Pakistan Agricultural Storage and Services Corporation (Passco), equivalent to around RS1 billion.
During a meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on National Food Safety, held under the presidency of Masroor Ahsan, Hussain confirmed that corruption actually occurred in Passco.
“This is why the government is considering establishing a commodity wing as an alternative institution,” he added. The Minister also stated that this year, wheat production reached 29 million tonnes and came shortly after the target of 33 million tonnes.
He expressed concern that the open wheat policy may benefit middlemen and if farmers do not receive reasonable compensation for their crops, wheat cultivation could be adversely affected.
Senator Danesh Kumar from Balochistan expressed concern about the deteriorating whale state and warned that if the crop is wasted, it could turn into a larger scandal. The federal minister clarified that although part of the crop was affected, most of the wheat was still safe.
Hussain also mentioned ongoing efforts to improve seed quality. He said action has been taken against those involved in the sale of fake seeds. He said hybrid seeds are imported while local seed production is also underway.
The Minister admitted that there is a serious shortage of labor in the Ministry of Food with available resources operating with less than 50% capacity. He said Pakistan’s agricultural sector is still dependent on outdated systems, while neighboring countries have made significant progress.
The meeting also discussed the appointment of Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (Parc) chairman, internal policy within the institution and Pakistan’s position in Smart Agriculture.
