MIANWALI: Local food department officials foiled an attempt to smuggle a huge quantity of wheat and flour bags loaded on two Khyber Pakhtunkhwa-bound trucks.

As per officials, a food department team intercepted two trucks at Kot Belianinterchange check post on CPEC Road in the district.

They say that on searching the vehicles, the team found 1,700 bags of flour, weighing 20kg each, in a truck and recovered 100kg 400 wheat sacks (total 40 tonnes) from the other.

The drivers of vehicles failed to produce any permit to transport the wheat out of province, they add. The officials seized the wheat and flour bags and impounded both trucks, which were brought to local wheat purchase centre.

On being informed of the recovery, Mianwali Deputy Commissioner Shahid Abbas Khatia visited the purchase centre and inspected the seized wheat and flour. He direct the food department to sell the seized 1,700 flour bags in the city on official rates and personally monitor the sale.

Food Controller Khadim Hussain Faraz briefed the DC that the official price of a 20kg flour bag is Rs2,000, but due to shortage in the market a bag is being sold at 2,800.

The DC praised the efforts of food department and directed them to remain alert at check posts to control smuggling as transportation of flour and wheat out of Punjab was banned.

He also direct them to take strict legal action against the arrested persons and the flour mills involved in smuggling.

Published in Dawn, August 3rd, 2026