Provinces Seek Over 2.2 Million Tons of Wheat as Government Reviews Import Plan
Pakistan’s provincial governments have requested more than 2.2 million metric tons of wheat from the federal government to help maintain flour supplies and stabilize market prices.
The request was discussed during a meeting of the Federal Wheat Board, chaired by Federal Minister for National Food Security Rana Tanveer Hussain, where officials reviewed provincial requirements and considered options to address anticipated supply needs.
Provincial Wheat Requirements
According to officials, the combined demand submitted by the provinces exceeds 2.2 million metric tons, including:
- Punjab: 1 million metric tons
- Sindh: 720,000 metric tons
- Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: 425,000 metric tons
- Balochistan: 57,500 metric tons
The government is considering importing nearly 1 million metric tons of wheat through the Trading Corporation of Pakistan (TCP) as part of its supply strategy.
Import and Financing Plan
Officials said provincial governments are expected to arrange financing by opening back-to-back letters of credit for imported wheat.
The meeting also discussed mechanisms for managing any funding shortfall, with proposals to recover outstanding amounts through the provinces’ allocations under the National Finance Commission (NFC) Award, subject to the applicable approval process.
Flour Prices Continue to Rise
According to data from the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS), average retail flour prices have increased significantly over the past year.
Officials noted that prices vary across different regions, with some cities reporting higher retail rates than the national average.
Distribution Strategy
The meeting discussed multiple options for meeting provincial demand.
Officials said Punjab’s requirements may be fulfilled through a combination of existing Pakistan Agricultural Storage and Services Corporation (PASSCO) stocks and imported wheat.
For Sindh, the proposed plan includes receiving 500,000 metric tons of imported wheat and 220,000 metric tons from PASSCO reserves.
Next Steps
The Federal Wheat Board decided to continue working on the proposed import framework through government channels.
The Ministry of National Food Security is expected to finalize the import strategy and financing arrangements before presenting the proposal to the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) for consideration.
If approved, the government will proceed with the wheat import process to help strengthen domestic supplies and support market stability.
