Auditors detect theft, fraud of over Rs12bn in Sindh Food Department

ISLAMABAD: An audit report by the Sindh Audit Department has uncovered a financial loss of Rs12.28 billion in the Sindh Food Department, attributed to suspected corruption in wheat procurement, sale, and storage.

The report highlights several issues:

• Billions of rupees worth of wheat were reportedly stolen, defrauded, and misappropriated across the food departments in 12 districts of Sindh.
• A deficit of two billion rupees worth of wheat was identified in the stock of 12 districts.
• Allegations of corruption amounting to Rs3 million were made against a food controller in Khairpur.

• Storing wheat outdoors resulted in damages worth Rs7.5 billion. “During audit of the following offices of Food Department, Government of Sindh, for the financial year 2021-2022, it was observed that wheat stock worth Rs 7,762.258 million was lying in the PRC/ WPCs, godown & open space area in centers & same was not fumigated. Thus, the chances of damage could not be ruled out.”

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• Failure to remove wheat stock led to a loss of one billion rupees in four districts of Sindh.
• A food inspector in Matiar is accused of causing a loss of Rs1 billion worth of wheat.
• The purchase and transportation of the bandana incurred a loss of Rs50 million for the Sindh Food Department.
• Two billion rupees worth of wheat theft occurred in Ghotki and Larkana.