Issuance of licenses to fake pesticide, fertiliser companies: ACE starts inquiry against Agricultural Department officials

Anti Corruption Establishment (ACE), Sindh has started inquiry against eight high officials and employees of provincial agriculture department for issuing licenses to fake pesticides and fertilisers companies, reliable sources told Business Recorder here on Friday.
An ACE team headed by Director Anti Corruption Ganwar Ali Leghari has started inquiry against the officials. Director Anti Corruption, Ganwar Ali Leghari through a letter to the Chairman, ACE, Ramzan Channa sought permission to conduct inquiry against the officials, which has been granted.
According to the letter, on a report of Intelligence Bureau, Sindh government got an inquiry conducted through a committee of two senior officers, Khalid Mehmood Soomro, ex managing director Sindh Seed Corporation, and Ayaz Ali Memon Director, Agriculture Extension, Hyderabad, in 2003-04 against the officers of Agriculture Extension Wing.
The committee investigated the matter fairly, freely and impartially, and objectives of the inquiry was to establish the responsibilities for the sale, sponsoring and projecting sale of illegal pesticides and fertiliser, letter stated.
During the inquiry, Malik Mohammad Akram, then Director General, Hidayat-u-llah Chhajrro, present Director General upper Sindh Sukkur and then EDO (agriculture) Mirpurkhas, Muhammad Akbar Zardari, (presently under suspension in embezzlement case) then APPO/DDO, Aftab Ahmed Kherro, then DPP DG extension officer (now retired), Jawed Memon then I/C S&WTL Rohri, Rasool Bux Khaskheli, ex I/C Pesticide Laboratory Rohri, Mohammad Hussain DD (tech) Agriculture Research Tandojam, I/C pesticides laboratory Hyderabad, Nabi Bux Jamrro were found involved in the matter, letter mentioned.
It said that Mohammad Akram Malik along with above-mentioned officials issued licenses to many fake companies, which were not existed, the letter added. They minted million of rupees by taking illegal gratification from each and every company. Thus they caused damage to Kharif crops 2003-04, which result in millions of rupees losses to the province, the letter added.
In light of the departmental inquiry report, the ACE has sought permission to thoroughly investigate the matter, which has been granted. This correspondent attempted to contact Ganwar Ali Leghari to get his version, but he was not available for comment. When Secretary Agriculture Agha Jan Akhtar was contacted, he expressed his ignorance regarding the matter, saying that the issue might be very old.