Body probing sugar, flour shortage gets inquiry commission's powers.

ISLAMABAD: The federal cabinet on Tuesday approved a request for granting powers of 'inquiry commission' to the committee formed to probe the recent wheat flour and sugar shortage in the country.

"The committee, which is due to present its report on the shortage of two commodities before the cabinet next week, has been given powers of 'inquiry commission' under the Commission of Inquiry Act, 2017," Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Information and Broadcasting Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan told media here after cabinet's weekly session. She said the Federal Investigation Agency's director general, who is convener of the committee, sought some time from the cabinet for submission of the report, while updating it about the recent developments. She said most of the cabinet members stressed on making the report public at the earliest. The report will be submitted before the cabinet soon, she added.

Dr Firdous said the status of inquiry commission will give legal cover to the committee to visit the relevant departments during the inquiry process and forensic audit of their accounts. The FIA DG told the cabinet that the forensic audit of accounts is imperative to expose elements behind the sugar crisis, she said. The cabinet also decided to include DG anti-corruption department and senior representatives of the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan, Intelligence Bureau and the Federal Board of Revenue in the commission. The inquiry commission will also be authorized to form special committees for certain matters, she said.

Prime Minister Imran Khan directed the committee to step up its efforts to conclude the fact-finding process so that the culprits can be taken to task, she said, adding that the committee, which is probing the reasons behind the sugar shortage, has also been given the mandate to evaluate the role of Competition Commission of Pakistan during the situation. "The committee will also investigate that why the commission which ought to expose, punish and eliminate the cartels and mafias, has been playing the role of a silent spectator," she said.

Dr Firdous said the issue of protesting employees of Pakistan Secretariat, Islamabad, also came under discussion. The prime minister directed the department concerned for formulating a uniform policy regarding pay scales of government employees to avoid discrimination, she said, adding that Advisor on Finance Abdul Hafeez Sheikh has been assigned the task of having negotiations with...