Global Rice News

The Sindh High Court in Karachi has expressed its dissatisfaction with the mishandling of 525,000 tonnes of rice from the 1988-89 crop. The court observed that the Trading Corporation of Pakistan (TCP) and the Punjab trading agency had negligently and insensitively dealt with this substantial quantity of rice.

During the hearing of the high court appeal filed by TCP against the single-judge order in favor of the Punjab trading company regarding the storage of the rice stock, the court noted that both sides confirmed the destruction and damage to the rice and rice bags. TCP referred to it as a “shortage,” while the Punjab trading agency claimed that a significant quantity of rice was damaged or decayed.

The court emphasized that this mishandling has caused a significant loss to the state exchequer. It pointed out that TCP and the Punjab trading agency had dealt with the rice in a callous, insensitive, and negligent manner, ultimately affecting the common man of the country. The court highlighted the absence of checks and balances and the lack of documentation during the transfer of the rice from one handler to the Punjab trading agency.

Furthermore, the court noted that both TCP and the Punjab trading agency failed to fulfill their responsibilities between 1990 and 1995. Instead of addressing the issue, they allowed the rice and rice bags to deteriorate. The court highlighted the negligence, shortage of 46,281 tonnes, and lethargy shown by both parties.

The court held TCP primarily responsible for ensuring the accountability and security of the rice stock. However, TCP failed in its duty, leading to considerable wastage and pilferage. The ultimate victim of this negligence was the common man. The court criticized TCP for continuing the contract with the same contractor for five years despite the ongoing losses.

The court observed that neither TCP nor the Punjab trading agency took meaningful action to prevent the loss of the rice stock. They merely exchanged letters and ultimatums. The court emphasized that TCP should fulfill its mandate of ensuring trust for the people and implement effective accounting and management systems for commodities handling.

Additionally, the court ordered that officers responsible for such fiascos should be appropriately proceeded against without any bias. The court held the members of the Board of Directors responsible for the loss caused by negligence in handling the stock. The chairman of TCP was directed to ensure that the court’s order is included in the minutes of the next board meeting.

In conclusion, the court stressed the importance of accountability, management systems, and better controls for stock safety in dealing with such issues. It highlighted the high number of cases involving TCP in the high court and the need for improvements in their approach towards similar matters.

Source: [The News Pakistan](https://www.thenews.com.pk)