7 customs officials sacked over alleged involvement in smuggling wheat

ISLAMABAD (92 News) – The government started crackdown against the responsible of wheat crisis in the country as seven customs officials has been sacked over alleged involvement in smuggling wheat on Sunday. According to the sources, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) sacked seven customs officials for smuggling wheat which soared the prices of wheat floor. Reportedly, the sacked officials include four collectors, additional collectors and deputy commissioners. They all were part of the Torkham and Chaman Customs Operations. They were found involved in smuggling and fabricating concession certificates to allow for undue tax and duty exemptions. However, the FBR has written a letter to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to carry out further investigation into the scam so as to bring to light all those involved in the fraud. Earlier, delay of ban on wheat exports became a major factor who intensified the crisis across Pakistan. 92 News traced the reason that why wheat crisis unfolded across Pakistan. Due to crisis, wheat prices across the country have sky rocketed over the past few days. The sources said that delay of ban on the export of wheat is major factor but the smuggling of wheat in Iran and Afghanistan is also cause of wheat crisis all over the country. In this whole situation, profiteers and hoarders started exploiting the situation and allegedly plunged into secret stock piling of wheat to increase prices. The wheat crisis started from Sindh and spread all over the country. The wheat was exported at the price of Rs30 per KG but now it has to import in the price of Rs60 per Kg. Meanwhile, the 40 billion rupees expenses have to bear on the monthly basis. Earlier in a meeting, when the government had already banned on the export of wheat and flour, the prime minister was informed that the exports of wheat-esqe commodities was still going on to Afghanistan, and in this guise, wheat, flour exports were also underway. It was also reported that the problem was unfolded by a decision to export 200,000 to 400,000 tons of wheat, keeping in view surplus stocks on the basis of estimates presented by Ministry of National Food Security and Research, but the actual exports of wheat crossed 640,000 tons. On the other hand, the Sindh government held the prime minister responsible for the situation, saying he allowed export of surplus wheat.