Gilgit-Baltistan govt uncovers massive wheat subsidy fraud

GILGIT: The Food Department of Gilgit-Baltistan has uncovered over 200,000 duplicate beneficiaries in the region’s wheat subsidy programme during an ongoing digital verification process.

 The findings indicate that many individuals were unlawfully receiving subsidized wheat from more than one district, exploiting both their original district of residence and the urban areas they had relocated to.

The largest number of duplicate entries was found in district Gilgit, where approximately 85,000 beneficiaries were detected with multiple records in the subsidy system.

This digital verification is part of a broader government initiative to ensure transparency in the wheat and flour distribution system in Gilgit-Baltistan.

The food department aims to prevent individuals from receiving wheat subsidies from more than one district, thereby eliminating the potential for double claims.

“Those whose duplicate entries have been identified will have their names registered in only one district,” an official from the department explained.

Also read: ECC directs formulation of wheat subsidy modalities for G-B

Gilgit Civil Supply Officer confirmed the findings, stating that they have issued strict directives to duplicate beneficiaries to clarify their preferred district for receiving subsidized wheat.

The CSO added that failure to declare a district will result in the suspension of their subsidized wheat benefits. The CSO also noted that they were currently processing 500 to 600 applications daily from individuals confirming their preferred district.

He highlighted the importance of the digital survey, calling it a critical step towards streamlining the distribution system and preventing the misuse of government resources. “Through this digital survey, we are making the wheat and flour supply system more transparent,” the official stated.

The wheat subsidy is a critical issue for the region, which saw large-scale protests last year when the government attempted to raise the price of subsidized wheat.

In response, the government initiated the digital verification process. For the fiscal year 2024-25, the government has earmarked Rs 19 billion for the wheat subsidy programme.