NAB inquiry ordered into PARC ‘illegal’ hiring
PAC panel gives NFS secretary to resolve issue in three months
ISLAMABAD:
A sub-committee of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has directed the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to hold inquiry into the appointments made in the Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC) in violation of rules.
The meeting, which was presided over by convener Munaza Hassan, reviewed the audit objections of Ministry of National Food Security for the year 2014-15.
The audit officials briefed the committee about the non-provision of record of 269 reinstated PARC staff.
Munaza recalled that the committee had directed the officials concerned to appoint only competent people and maintained that the body would hold public hearing in this regard. She said that the PARC chairman had not followed the Islamabad High Court orders.
Food inflation continues to persist
Prices of wheat flour, cooking oil and sugar went sky-high
KARACHI:
Food inflation has continued to pose a challenge to the government as prices of major kitchen items including wheat flour, cooking oil and sugar have gone sky-high despite the constitution of a committee to curb prices in the country.
Industry officials said that prices had been on the rise partly due to the return of middlemen to the supply chain of commodities.
They have also continued to speculate a likely shortfall in supplies that has kept prices at high levels.
Besides, a significant surge in international prices of wheat and cooking oil also impacted rates in the domestic market.
Thousands converge in Larkana on 27th of December every year to pay homage to their leaders from the Bhutto dynasty. Two former prime ministers, including the Muslim world’s first female prime minister, lie buried there in a beautifully built mausoleum. The late Z A Bhutto and his daughter Benazir Bhutto are from this district.
Many bureaucrats that serve in different positions also find their roots in Larkana. Besides Bhuttos, Larkana is home of Kalhoros, Chandios, Khuhros, Bughios, Magsis, Unnars and Rashdis who all come from the landowning class. Many among them are tribal chieftains, for upper Sindh’s districts are also known for tribal culture and jirgas which settle disputes and bloody feuds privately between parties. These are, however, families who also matter in Sindh’s politics. Sheikhs an important community of Larkana are business-oriented and dominate the area’s urban landscape.
The minister for national food security and research has once again pressed economic policymakers to increase the wheat support price to Rs1,800 per 40 kg in a bid to encourage farmers to boost production and cultivate more area with the crop
The meeting of the ECC presided over by Finance Minister Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh also cleared about Rs2.7 billion worth of supplementary grants. Reuters/File
ISLAMABAD: The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the cabinet on Wednesday approved additional import of more than 250,000 tonnes of wheat for buffer stock ahead of the fresh crop produce in April and allowed removal of duty on 152 tariff lines.
The meeting of the ECC presided over by Finance Minister Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh also cleared about Rs2.7 billion worth of supplementary grants.
On a summary regarding provision of additional quantities of wheat to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Utility Stores Corporation (USC), the additional secretary of the Ministry of National Food Security and Research gave a detailed presentation about the availability of wheat stocks across the country and sought permission for additional imports.