July 14, 2008	Monday	Rajab 10, 1429

ATTOCK, July 13: With the deployment of special monitoring teams at Mullah Mansoor check post on the G.T. Road, the officials of district food department have taken their hands off checking smuggling of wheat flour from Punjab to NWFP, it has been learnt.

A fortnight back, District Coordination Officer (DCO) Attock Saqib Zafar empowered the district monitoring officer (DMO) to supervise checking of vehicles at the post.

The action was taken when complaints started piling up after the withdrawal of Pakistan Rangers from the post. Several cases about the involvement of some police and food department officials in flour smuggling were reported.

Even a food inspector was suspended for negligence when he was found sleeping while on duty, during a surprise visit by senior officials. Moreover, the Punjab secretary food also expressed concern over the irregularities.

On the directives of the DCO, the DMO set up three monitoring teams and deployed them at the check post in three shifts.

The move irked the officials of the food and revenue departments, as they did not want the monitoring teams to supervise them.

Sources told Dawn that the officials had adopted an uncooperative attitude towards the monitoring teams.

During a visit to the check post earlier this week, it was observed that only the monitoring team was busy checking the trucks loaded with bag of wheat flour while there was no presence of the food and revenue department officials.

A member of the monitoring team, on condition of anonymity, told this reporter that they had been facing a lot of problems in performing their duty due to the hurdles created by the officials of the food and revenue departments.

DMO Attock Shahid Farooq, when contacted, admitted the food and revenue departments had turned a blind eye to their responsibilities, and reduced their staff after the deployment of monitoring teams at the check post.

“As a result, the burden has been shifted on the shoulders of his officials, who are performing their duties efficiently,” he said.

However, acting District Food Controller Mr Babar claimed that the department officials were fully cooperating with the monitoring teams, though they were facing shortage of staff.

”Daily wagers will be employed soon to meet the shortage,” he said.

Talking about smuggling of wheat flour, DCO Saqib Zafar said the situation had improved after the deployment of monitoring teams at Mullah Mansoor.