ISLAMABAD : The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) strongly rejects the report published in a section of the press regarding smuggling of flour into Afghanistan.

According to the report a UN vehicle was seized and FC personnel have recovered 200 tons of flour from a trailer sealed under the WFP invoice. This is incorrect. WFP has not exported any flour through Chaman border for several years and there is no documentary evidence such as a “WFP invoice” that confirms the shipment belonged to WFP.

Moreover, WFP does not use trailers for its humanitarian transports to Afghanistan. Instead contracted high-wall trucks without trailers are being used.

It is also incorrect that FC approached WFP officials in Islamabad. The fact is that no WFP official in Islamabad has been approached by FC nor by the correspondent.

The report further mentions that some WFP staff might be involved in the illegal practice because opening and re-sealing the container was not a difficult task. This speculation is baseless because WFP neither seals its cargo nor uses containers. Therefore WFP staff cannot have been involved in any re-sealing.

WFP strongly deplores the misleading article that can damage the important cause of providing humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan under the prevailing difficult circumstances.

WFP in Pakistan provides assistance to over four million food insecure people. WFPs logistics operations with its hubs in Quetta and Peshawar serve as lifeline for humanitarian food transports into Afghanistan. NNI (News Network International), 2008

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