Lahore, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has issued directives to incorporate technology in the wheat procurement process to enhance transparency and efficiency. This decision comes in light of recent issues identified in the current practices, emphasizing the need for a cleaner, more accountable system.

According to Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, during a meeting in Lahore focused on wheat stock management, the Prime Minister ordered the development of a mobile application to support the procurement process. He also mandated a third-party audit of the Pakistan Agricultural Storage and Services Corporation (PASSCO) stocks and stressed the importance of crop insurance to secure the economic interests of farmers.

The Prime Minister’s actions included the suspension of the Managing Director and the General Manager of Procurement at PASSCO for their failure to implement technological solutions and for negligence in managing the procurement process. Furthermore, he has directed PASSCO to procure an additional 400,000 metric tons of wheat in a manner that is both transparent and efficient, underlining that any loss to farmers is unacceptable.

Recognizing the need for incentives and accountability, Shehbaz Sharif announced that high-performing PASSCO centers and officers will be acknowledged at the government level. He reiterated the government’s commitment to ensuring food security and supporting the prosperity of farmers across the country.