GUJRAT: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has launched an inquiry into the alleged theft of thousands of wheat bags from the stores of Pakistan Agricultural Storage and Services Corporation (Passco) in Hafizabad.

Official sources said the inquiry was initiated after the Passco managing director formally referred the matter to the FIA director general, following an initial probe that detected shortages and irregularities in the wheat stocks. The sources said seven senior officials of Hafizabad Passco zone, including the zonal head and project manager, went into hiding after the wheat bags theft was surfaced.

The Passco managing director has constituted a special audit inspection committee to comprehensively examine the stocks and scrutinise official documents. The FIA Gujranwala zonal director has been assigned to head the inquiry, and a team has started working in this regard.

Sources said an initial probe by the Passco headquarters and the FIA found that 50,000 wheat bags were missing from the stocks. They said the investigation is expected to identify the suspects involved in the scam.

The investigation team will also assess the financial loss caused to the national exchequer.

According to sources in FIA, a criminal case may be lodged against those found involved in the scam.

Published in Dawn, November 3rd, 2026