SAHIWAL: The Faisalabad zone of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) on Thursday booked and arrested six purchase inspectors of different Pakistan Agricultural Storage and Services Corporation (Passco) centres in Pakpattan tehsil over alleged irregularities and embezzlement in distribution of gunny bags during the wheat procurement season.

Reports said 61,284 gunny bags of 100 kg each were wrongly distributed to middlemen and other growers by taking bribe of Rs400-600 for each bag.

There are multiple public complaints that the Passco staffers are distributing gunny bags to growers who have Gardawari and land ownership papers outside Pakpattan tehsil jurisdiction.

Many district level office-bearers of Pakistan Kisan Ittehad highlighted incidents of embezzlement wherein middlemen and commission agents were given gunny bags. Many farmers filed complaints through social media platforms where Passco officials were accused of corruption.

It is in this background that six purchase inspectors were booked, including Abdul Gaffar, centre In-charge Sikander Chowk, Muhammad Raza, Chak 107/D, Muhammad Ansar, Chanpir, Ali Tamoor, Chak Noor Muhammad, Mudasir Nawaz, Haripur and Touseef, Pakpattan centre.

The FIA team has also confiscated records of gunny bags distribution.

Published in Dawn, May 31st, 2024