ISLAMABAD - Federal Minister for Industries and Production Makhdum Khusro Bakhtyar has asked Prime Minister Imran Khan to transfer the Sugar Advisory Board (SAB) to another ministry to avoid any possible perceived conflict of interest that may arise.
“Keeping in view any possible perceived conflict of interest that may arise and in order to ensure that SAB is allowed to operate without public objections, I hereby request that the SAB be transferred to another ministry of the federal government,” said federal minister for Industries and Production in a letter written to the Prime Minister Imran Khan in last week. He expressed his gratitude for serving the Prime Minister’s Cabinet as the federal minister for Industries and Production. “It is a great honour for me to hold this responsibility of ensuring the prosperity of industrial growth in Pakistan.” The minister further said that he was conscious of the “serious responsibility” his position placed on him. “Given the importance of sugar as a commodity in Pakistan and in light of the recent public concerns in respect of the same, it is imperative that the functions of SAB are not perceived as serving any interests besides those of the people of Pakistan,” he added. Makhdum Khusro Bakhtyar said the matter of the SAB was “imperative to the integrity” of his portfolio and the independent functioning of the body.
The minister on Wednesday took Twitter to explain the letter. “I had requested the Prime Minister on the day of appointment as Federal Minister Industries & Production to transfer the Sugar Advisory Board (SAB) to avoid any possible perceived conflict of interest and to ensure the integrity of my working,” he said and added, “I took this proactively to the honourable PM even before attending my first day of new office so that the integrity of this office and my working can be assured to be above board”. Meanwhile, a notification issued by the Prime Minister’s Office dated April 19 has confirmed to receive the Khusro Bakhtiar’s letter. “The Prime Minister has seen and while agreeing to the request of the minister for industries and production, in principle, has been pleased to desire that Industries and Production Division shall, in consultation with the stakeholders concerned, move a summary for transfer of the Sugar Advisory Board to the appropriate ministry/division, at the earliest,” it read.
In a recent reshuffle in federal cabinet, the Prime Minister has appointed Khusro Bakhtiar as federal minister for Industries and Production. Earlier, he was working as federal minister for Economic Affairs Division. However, opposition parties had criticised the appointment of Khusro Bakhtiar as federal minister for Industries and Production due to his possible conflict of interest, as his family is involve in sugar business. Former Senate chairman Raza Rabbani of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) has recently termed the appointment of Makhdum Khusro Bakhtyar as minister for Industries and Production as a conflict of interest. He has said that Khusro Bakhtiar is owner/shareholder and or his families’ interest involvement in the sugar industry, which has also been mentioned in the Sugar Commission Report. “After the Sugar Commission Report, he was removed from the office of minister for National Food Security as having a conflict of interest and how the conflict disappears in the ministry of Industries and Production which has a direct link with the sugar industry.” he said.