Tag: Caretaker

  • Shehbaz Government cracks down on wheat scandal, leaves Caretakers unscathed

    Shehbaz Government cracks down on wheat scandal, leaves Caretakers unscathed

    Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday ordered the suspension of four senior officers of the Ministry of National Food Security for “poor planning and negligence” regarding the wheat scandal.

    Interestingly, no action has been taken against the previous caretaker setup or its key officials under whom the wheat scandal took place originally.

    Earlier, PM Shehbaz had given Secretary Cabinet Division Kamran Ali Afzal the task of investigating the import of wheat last year despite a “bumper crop”, which has led to excess wheat stock leaving Balochistan and Punjab governments unable to purchase the crop from the farmers.

    The stock surplus has, so far, been attributed to the decision of the caretaker government — led by former caretaker prime minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar — allowing the import of 2,758,226 226 metric tonnes of wheat worth Rs225.783 billion till February 2024.

    Geo News reported that the Ministry of National Food Security had apprised PM Shehbaz’s cabinet that 28.18 million tonnes of wheat was produced last year and the caretaker government decided to import 2.45 million tonnes more.

    The government allowed for relevant action to be taken against federal Secretary of National Food Security Muhammad Asif and also ordered the suspension of former Director General Plant Protection AD Abid, Food Security Commissioner Dr Wasim and Director Sohail and Punjab Director of Food Security Imtiaz Gopang.

  • Caretaker setup allegedly profited 85 billion in Wheat Crisis Scheme

    Caretaker setup allegedly profited 85 billion in Wheat Crisis Scheme

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Senator Aon Abbas has claimed on a talk show on Geo News that the previous caretaker government was singlehandedly responsible for creating the current wheat crisis in Punjab.

    Abbas revealed, “The caretaker government on 22 October 2023 imported 34 lakh ton wheat from Ukraine at the rate of Rs 3,100 per ton and sold it in Punjab at Rs 4,500 per ton.”

    The senator alleged that after this massive profit, the past caretaker government imposed strict rules on buying wheat from local farmers.

    “There was somebody in the caretaker setup who planned this entire scheme by getting import LCs (letter of credit) opened for Ukrainian wheat and made a profit of 85 billion.”

    Senator Talal Chaudhry from Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PMLN) agreed with the PTI senator and said “The Prime Minister has ordered an inquiry into this matter and the Punjab government is also a victim like the farmers because this crisis was created by others.”

  • Veteran actor Khalid Butt passes away

    Veteran actor Khalid Butt passes away

    Senior actor Khalid Butt has passed away in Lahore after being unwell for a long time. Family sources have said that his funeral prayers will take place tomorrow after Asr prayer.

    Khalid Butt had worked in many movies and TV shows, and he was honored with the Pride of Performance award.

    Caretaker Information Minister Murtaza Solangi has shared condolences and sympathy with Khalid Butt’s family. In a statement, Solangi said that the late actor showcased his talent in various TV dramas, films, and theatre, adding that Khalid Butt’s death leaves a significant gap in the entertainment industry.

  • Interim CM KP, Azam Khan, passes away

    Interim CM KP, Azam Khan, passes away

    The Caretaker Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Azam Khan, has passed away on Saturday morning in a private hospital, Dawn News has confirmed.

    Earlier in the morning, journalist Iftikhar Firdous tweeted that Azam Khan died at 10:25 am after suffering from a stomach infection that led to a heart attack.

    Dawn has said that Khan was admitted to the ICU unit of Rehman Medical Complex after falling ill one day before.

    Azam Khan was a Barrister and had served as minister of interior in the caretaker government led by Nasir-ul-Mulk in 2018. He had also served as a caretaker minister in the provincial govt of 2007-2008. He was appointed the interim CM in January 2023 after Imran Khan dissolved his party’s governments in KP and Punjab.