Ladies and gentlemen, say hello to the corruption ‘whitepaper’

Kisan Board Pakistan (KBP) has started preparing a ‘white paper’ on corruption and irregularities being done by the officials of the provincial departments involved in the on-going wheat procurement drive. This was disclosed at an emergent meeting of the ‘wheat committee’ of the Board with KBP Central President Sardar Zafar Hussein Khan in the chair, said KBP spokesman here on Monday. The meeting alleged that farmers were facing lot of difficulties and hardships in disposing off their produce to the provincial food department in a smooth manner due to poor and wrong policy devised by the food, revenue departments and districts administration. The meeting alleged that fake records had been prepared by the provincial revenue department, there were long queues to get gunny bags and growers had to reach the center early in the morning but those responsible for distribution of bags were not arriving at the center in time. It said there was also information that procurement centers were changed over night and those in power had procurement centers near their homes and common growers were facing difficulties in reaching these centers. The meeting also alleged that lists prepared by the revenue department was only carrying names of influential and middle men while real grower had been ignored in it. The meeting said that the food department announced procurement date as May 05, 2012 and when growers reached the procurement centers they were told that now procurement would start from May 08, 2012. Participants of the meting urged the provincial government to hold an enquiry in to irregularities and poor arrangements made by the provincial departments and districts administration. They said that growers reaching the procurement centers should be treated with dignity and respect and it is ensured that procurement should be transparent.