Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) authorities have suspended eight senior Agriculture Department officials following a major scandal involving expired wheat seeds that destroyed approximately 36,000 acres of farmland, causing severe financial losses for farmers.

The suspended officers include District Director of Agriculture Extension Dr. Muhammad Anwar Khan, Deputy Directors Ikramullah, Muhammad Waqas, Dr. Aslam Shahid, Ehtesham, Farm Incharges Muhammad Saleem and Saifullah, and Store Keeper Shafiullah. The suspensions were issued due to negligence and serious irregularities in the procurement and distribution of faulty seed batches.

The incident came to light after repeated complaints from affected farmers and extensive media reporting. The Secretary of Agriculture confirmed that a transparent inquiry is underway, promising strict legal action against those found responsible. Authorities also pledged compensation for growers and urgent reforms in the seed supply and monitoring system to prevent future crises.

Farmer organisations have welcomed the suspensions but stressed that accountability must extend beyond departmental action. They demanded full compensation for affected farmers and called for strict legal proceedings against officials allegedly involved with the seed mafia. The losses have been described as devastating for rural communities already struggling with economic challenges.

This is not the first governance failure in KP’s agriculture sector. A similar case in May last year saw eight Food Department officials suspended over irregularities in the wheat procurement process worth Rs29 billion. At that time, several senior officers, including district food controllers and deputy directors, faced disciplinary action, while two representatives of the Flour Mills Association were de-notified from Food Procurement Committees.

The recurring incidents have raised serious concerns about oversight and accountability within KP’s agriculture and food sectors, highlighting the need for stricter monitoring and transparency in seed and food distribution programs.