GILGIT, May 2: A food department official has been made an officer on special duty (OSD) for his alleged failure to ensure smooth supply of wheat to various areas, official sources told Dawn. Action against Northern Areas Food Department director Muniruddin had been taken mainly due to mismanagement and corruption in the department, sources said and added that Sikandar Azam had been made the new director.

District council members from Hunza and Nagar said there were eight flour mills in the region which were at the mercy of the former director. Sometimes these mills were provided with excessive wheat and sometimes wheat supply was stopped whenever a deal had gone wrong with the former director, they alleged.

The councillors maintained that far-flung areas, including the Siachen sector, Phander valley, Olding, Thuwee and Hundur areas suffered most at the hands of former director as the department never ensured wheat supply to these areas on time.

They alleged that allocation of Rs60.56 million which were earmarked for the construction of godowns, silos and offices of the food department in six districts and Islamabad were being delayed as the former director defied the orders of the food secretary.

The members alleged that black marketing of wheat was going on in the region with the help of some food department officials, who in collusion with dealers and flour mills provided substandard flour and wheat to depots.

They said subsidized wheat was being sold at higher prices although subsidy price was being deposited in the exchequer.

They said people had been complaining against the department but its officials did not take any action.