Rs4bn wheat loss: Passco’s ex-MD doesn’t appear before inquiry team

ISLAMABAD: The Prime Minister Inspection Commission has submitted its recommendations on the inquiry to ascertain the losses caused due to damage of over 52,670 MT of wheat stock valued at over Rs4 billion during 2022 floods.

Former MD Passco Captain (R) Saeed Ahmad Nawaz did not appear before the committee despite repeated call-up notices. Subsequent to the prime minister’s displeasure over inordinate delay in completion of the inquiry to ascertain the losses of damaged wheat during the 2022 floods and to fix the responsibility, Commissioner, Ministry of National Food Security and Research, in its report submitted to the office of Prime Minister on July 12, 2024 expressed his inability to complete the report due to the consistent non-cooperation of Capt (R) Saeed Ahmad Nawaz, former Managing Director, Pakistan Agriculture Storage and Services Corporation (Passco). No action, however, has been initiated against Capt (R) Saeed Ahmad Nawaz.

Surprisingly, Saeed Nawaz has been given another lucrative position in the corporate sector watchdog i.e. Competition Commission of Pakistan under the administrative control of the Ministry of Finance.

This correspondent had reported on March 7 that despite issuing several notices of in-person hearings, the Prime Minister’s Inspection Commission (PMIC) was unable to record the statement of former MD Passco Capt (R) Saeed Ahmad Nawaz, to determine the causes of damage to over 52,670 MT of wheat stocks valued at over Rs4 billion.

The ex-MD Saeed Ahmad has not been responding to the questions provided to him or showing up on the scheduled hearing dates.

Since then, PMIC has completed its enquiry and recommended dismissal of all those involved. The recommendations have been endorsed by the PM, however, to date, no action has been initiated against Saeed Ahmed Nawaz.

Following the News report, the Prime Minister Office wrote to the Secretary Establishment on 30th May and 13th June to begin the disciplinary action against Capt (R) Saeed Ahmad Nawaz for refusing to cooperate with the inquiry. Surprisingly, there was once more a prolonged silence.

In the first week of July, when the prime minister sought an implementation report on its directions, the Establishment Division failed to implement PM’s directives.

It is important to note here that wheat stocks worth Rs4 billion had been damaged in the floods in Sindh and Balochistan due to torrential rains in July and August 2022. The then prime minister Shehbaz Sharif had ordered an inquiry to determine the causes and losses of damage to huge wheat stocks at Passco in October 2022. The PM’s inspection team visited the Passco godowns in affected areas and presented a report to the PMIC.

The PMIC, governed by Martial Law Ordinance Number 58 of 1978, is responsible for conducting inquiries on federal government institutions and employees, recommending suspensions of individuals under inquiry, and having the power to try suits under the Code of Civil Procedure 1908 (Act V) regarding evidence, document production, and witness examination.

When contacted PMIC Director Saleh Narejo said the commission has sent its recommendations to the relevant ministry (Ministry of National Food Security) and Establishment Division. The ministries concerned are authorised to take any action on these recommendations, he said.

The News contacted former MD Passco Saeed Ahmed Nawaz for his version but he did not attend this scribe’s calls despite repeated attempts.