Nazir Siyal
KARACHI: A shocking audit of the Sindh Food Department has revealed widespread corruption, mismanagement, and financial fraud amounting to more than Rs 70 billion in four years alone.
The audit, covering multiple districts of Sindh province and financial years, has highlighted systemic failures in wheat procurement, storage, taxation, and transparency, leaving public funds at risk and contributing to wheat shortages and price hikes across the province.
A hundred billions of wheat Rotted in Open air despite Government Warehouses.
It is to mention here that over 20,0000 wheat bags were stored on privately rented open plots, despite the presence of an official government warehouse.
The exposed bags were left vulnerable to rain and intense heat for nearly 18 months, resulting in large-scale spoilage.
The private plot’s owner, Muhammad Amin Jamali in Dadu district has taken the matter to court, alleging that the department owes him 15 months’ rent.
He also accused officials of deliberately delaying the removal of spoiled wheat to hide the extent of the corruption.
This scribe has investigated numerous key Audit Findings, including records Withheld Rs 13 Million Unverified, while essential documents worth Rs 13.05 million were not provided for audit despite repeated official requests, raising suspicions of concealment.
Confirmed theft of wheat and bardana of Rs 2.07 billion Loss have been observed.
Twelve districts reported confirmed shortages of government wheat and bardana (gunny bags) with no efforts made for recovery or investigation.
A procurement fraud of Rs 138 Million Paid to Single Seller not only a single wheat supplier was paid Rs 138 million without any agreement, tax filings, or production, verifications.
Wheat also issued to Non-Operational Mills Rs 42.71 Million a heavy loss to the food department said sources.
Several flour mills that were not operational received wheat illegally, suggesting ghost mills were used to divert government stocks.
Several times inquiry delays, while Rs 30.85 million wheat still unrecovered.
According to an inquiry, missing 12,340 wheat bags remains unresolved with no recovery initiated. Also Quota Violations of Rs 2.72 million in excess wheat released
Wheat was distributed beyond authorized quotas, violating government procurement policy and causing losses.
Total financial irregularities and losses have exceeded Rs 70 billion, raising serious concerns over governance, accountability, and food security in Sindh.
