RAWALPINDI: Food Department Rawalpindi Chapter Vigilance cell on Tuesday foiled an attempt to smuggle wheat and wheat flour to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and confiscated 11 trucks.

Punjab government formed the vigilance cell to stop the movement of wheat and wheat flour to avoid food scarcity in the province.

Talking to Dawn, Food Department Rawalpindi Division Deputy Director Shahid Yaqoob said that the department had launched the crackdown on smuggling of wheat and wheat flour in full swing.

He confirmed that in largest single day achievement in division, department has intercepted 11 vehicles carrying illegal wheat and flour consisting of 6,300 bags of 50kg wheat and 2,400 bags of 20kg wheat flour.

He said that this massive quantity has been retrieved in a tip off received from vigilance teams constituted by department in the wake of recent surprise visit of secretary food Nadir Chattha.

He has categorically reiterated department’s resolve to take stern action against such elements involved in illicit activity.

“We will auction the confiscated wheat and wheat flour in the open market to end the shortage of wheat and wheat flour,” he said.

He said that the food department also kept an eye on the movement of the wheat and in this regard, it formed different teams to avoid smuggling.

Published in Dawn, June 15th, 2022