DERA GHAZI KHAN, May 2 The chief minister suspended the whole staff of two procurement centres including the district food controller (DFC) on charges of misappropriation in procurement and distribution of gunny bags during a surprise visit of the district here on Saturday.

The chief minister took this action on the findings of the district monitoring team. The chief minister also announced to establish a degree college at Kot Chhuta sub-tehsil, provision of two buses for schoolchildren of the sub tehsil and establishment of ovens (tandoors) to sell cheap roti in all tehsils of the province. He also took serious notice of growing incidents of motorbikes snatching in the district.

Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif arrived at the Dera airport at around 12.40pm and soon after his arrival, he proceeded to Choti Zaireen.

Later, he paid a surprise visit to Kot Chhuta and Dera Ghazi Khan procurement centres.

During the inspection, the chief minister asked from growers their problems. The chief minister was informed that employees of the food department had given priority to the middle men/brokers instead of farmers in the distribution of gunny bags. Abdul Rehman, a farmer, complained to the chief minister that they were still deprived of gunny bags as the procurement centre in-charge had given gunny bags to brokers.

Tariq Saeed, a district monitoring team member, informed the chief minister about the flaws and alleged forgery in the records of nine procurement centres.

The chief minister took strict notice and suspended from service the whole staff of the Kot Chhuta and Dera Ghazi Khan food procurement centers including DFC Chaudhry Abdul Ghafoor and directed the commissioner to streamline the matters of the procurement centres to facilitate the farmers.

He also directed to provide two buses for schoolchildren of the Kot Chhuta sub-tehsil after he saw dozens of students returning to their homes on foot under the scorching sun.

He showed his extreme displeasure when he came to know that Choti Zaireen higher secondary school could not commence its functioning despite accomplishment of building and the newly-built building had started falling into decay. The chief minister directed the authorities concerned to control law and order situation in the district especially incidents of motorbikes snatching.

BAHAWALPUR Two food inspectors were arrested on the orders of the chief minister here on Saturday.

Dawn learned that MPA Jahanzeb Warren during his meeting with the chief minister had complained against food inspectors Husnain Haider Gilani, of Kotla Musa Khan's wheat procurement centre, and Liaqat Ghumman, of Hatheji, on which the chief minister ordered their arrest.

Earlier, the chief minister announced increasing the payment of the polythene and propylene bag price from Rs15 to Rs20 per piece for wheat growers.

The chief minister announced this during his surprise visit to the wheat procurement centre of Chak 12-BC at Binishell godowns, about 15 kilometres away from here, on Saturday.

After his arrival at the local airport from DG Khan, the chief minister was briefed by Commissioner Muhammad Mushtaq Ahmed about the ongoing wheat procurement drive in the three districts of Bahawalpur division.

Later, he took Yazman Road to conduct surprise inspection of the procurement centres. The growers gathered around the chief minister who asked them about their grievances and performance of the officials of the food department.

The growers informed the chief minister that the food department paid them Rs15 for a polythene bag but it was not available at this price in the open market and they were buying it at higher prices. The chief minister announced to increase Rs5 in the price of polythene bag per piece.

Sharif reiterated his government's resolve to provide maximum facilities to the farming community. He informed them that the government had placed order for purchasing more gunny bags to meet the enhanced wheat procurement target. As soon as the consignment reached, the bags would be distributed among growers, he added.

He asked them to directly register their complaints to him on his cellular phone. He assured them that none of the government officials would harass them in the procurement process and if any complaint against any official was received, that official would be taken to task.