KARACHI: Sindh’s Senior Minister and Minister for Information, Transport, and Mass Transit, Sharjeel Inam Memon, announced on Thursday that the provincial government has seized 150,000 tons of wheat from hoarders in a province-wide operation aimed at stabilizing prices and ensuring sufficient supplies for the public.
During a press conference, Memon explained that despite record harvests in both Punjab and Sindh this season, profiteers and hoarders had purchased and stored large quantities of wheat, hindering the government’s procurement efforts. The crackdown recovered the stored wheat and compensated those from whom the grain was seized based on official procurement rates.
He called on those still hoarding wheat to surrender their stocks to the government to help maintain adequate supplies in the market. Following the release of the recovered wheat, he added, wheat prices have dropped by 13 percent.
Addressing a different topic, Memon responded to the murder of Dr. Akash Kumar, stating that police acted swiftly by arresting three suspects—Anil, Ram Chand, and Suresh and recovering the vehicle used in the crime. He commended law enforcement for their prompt response and reiterated the government’s resolve to swiftly address serious crimes.
Sharjeel also strongly condemned remarks made against Pakistan’s martyrs and ghazis, emphasizing that the armed forces have always defended the nation on all fronts. He highlighted the recent Pakistan-India conflict, praising the Pakistan Army, Navy, and Air Force for their effective response and victory.
He urged Maulana Fazlur Rehman, head of JUI-F, to retract his statements regarding the armed forces, warning that such comments have been widely circulated by Indian media and could harm the country’s interests. He reaffirmed that Pakistan’s martyrs and ghazis are national heroes whose sacrifices must be respected.
The minister noted that Pakistan remained united during the hostilities with India, with every segment of society contributing to the national effort. He pointed out that the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) has historically opposed dictatorship but has never spoken against the armed forces.
Sharjeel also highlighted Pakistan’s status as the only nuclear-armed country in the Islamic world, crediting former Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto for this achievement. He called for unity among all political, military, business, and social sectors on issues of national importance.
In response to questions about wheat procurement, he stated that Punjab and Sindh have separate policies. While there is no evidence of wheat being transported from Punjab to Afghanistan, he confirmed that wheat has been moved from Sindh to Punjab, clarifying that constitutional provisions do not permit provinces to restrict wheat movement across borders.
He emphasized Karachi’s vital role as the economic backbone of Pakistan. Regarding Sindh’s Local Government Minister, Syed Nasir Hussain Shah, Memon mentioned that he had suffered a blood clot in the brain while in Dubai and is currently under medical care.
