KARACHI: The provincial food department has dismissed eight officials from service and ordered recovery of over Rs5.12 billion in connection with large-scale misappropriation and shortages of government wheat, as part of a province-wide crackdown on corruption in wheat procurement and storage.

Official sources told Dawn on Thursday that the action was taken following the completion of disciplinary proceedings under the Sindh Civil Servants (Effici­ency and Discipline) Rules, 1973.

Those dismissed include Food Supervisors Muhammad Hassan and Muhammad Mithal Magsi; District Food Controller Muha­mmad Munawar Arain; Food Inspectors Muhammad Abbas Memon, Zaheer Abbas Shar, Imr­an Ali Magsi, Qurban Ali Magsi and Ghulam Mustafa Mirani.

They said that recovery of Rs5.128bn from the sacked officials had been ordered.

Sindh govt finds them guilty of theft, illegal disposal or adulteration of wheat stocks

They said that the proceedings related to shortages, misappropriation, illegal release and transportation, adulteration and deliberate deterioration of wheat stocks at centres in Dadu, Sanghar, Shaheed Benazirabad, Khairpur, Kashm­ore-Kandhkot and Shikarpur.

Speaking to Dawn, Food Minister Makhdoom Mehboobuz Zaman said that government wheat was a public asset meant to ensure food security and affordable flour for citizens.

“Anyone found involved in the theft, misappropriation, illegal disposal or adulteration of government wheat will face dismissal, recovery of every rupee and criminal prosecution. No position or influence will provide protection,” he said.

Zaman said that accountability would not be limited to departmental penalties and that recovery and criminal proceedings would be pursued to their logical conclusion. “The Sindh government will protect every grain of public wheat. Strict monitoring, physical verification and transparent stock management are being strengthened across the province,” he added.

Officials said that Food Inspe­ctor Zaheer Abbas Shar faced the largest recovery of over Rs2 billion for wheat shortages reported at the Procurement and Receipt Centre (PRC) Thari Mirwah, PRC Setharja and WPCs Sikandarabad and Choondiko in Khairpur. Food Inspector Muhammad Abbas Memon has been held liable for over Rs1 billion for losses at PRCs Sanghar, Nauabad and Khipro, while Food Supervisor Muhammad Mithal Magsi faces recovery of Rs849,161,882 in the Shikarpur case.

Food Supervisor Muhammad Hassan has been ordered to pay Rs700,453,297 for shortages at PRC Radhan and WPCs in Dadu, and Food Inspector Imran Ali Magsi Rs310,837,583 for shortages at PRC Khudabad.

Food Supervisor Qurban Ali Mag­si faces recovery of Rs67,515,209 for stocks at K.N. Shah, and former DFC Muhammad Munawar Arain Rs56,593,000 for illegal release of wheat to a non-functional flour mill.

In the eighth case, Ghulam Mustafa Mirani was dismissed for his alleged role, in collusion with centre in-charges, in large-scale shortages at PRCs Kashmore and Kandhkot.

The officials said that exact recoverable amount in his case will be determined by the Enquiries and Anti-Corruption Establishment Sindh.

Published in Dawn, July 31st, 2026