Pakistan's wheat mismanagement deepens as supply crisis forces import debate
Lahore, July 11
Pakistan is facing mounting concerns over its wheat supply after officials, industry representatives and provincial authorities warned of a significant production shortfall, prompting renewed calls for large-scale imports to prevent a food security crisis, as reported by The Express Tribune.
According to The Express Tribune, a meeting of the Wheat Board, chaired by Federal Minister for National Food Security Rana Tanveer Hussain in Islamabad, focused on the country's shrinking wheat reserves and the widening gap between production and demand. Participants from flour mills, grain traders, farmer organisations and the Cereal Association estimated that Pakistan could face a wheat deficit of more than 3.5 million tonnes.
Stakeholders argued that importing at least 2 million tonnes of wheat had become unavoidable to stabilise supplies. Representatives from the private sector also urged the government to ensure that any import policy remains transparent and competitive. They maintained that import permits should be made available to all eligible flour millers and traders rather than being concentrated among a limited number of companies, warning that preferential treatment could distort the market.
Senior officials from all four provinces attended the meeting. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's chief secretary informed participants that the province currently held only around 30,000 tonnes of wheat in reserve and had already secured 250,000 tonnes from the Pakistan Agricultural Storage and Services Corporation (PASSCO) after seeking federal assistance. He also noted that Punjab continues to supply over 70 per cent of the province's flour requirements, as cited by The Express Tribune.
Sindh officials highlighted growing wheat prices linked to declining availability and said authorities had launched operations against alleged hoarding to improve market conditions. Meanwhile, Punjab officials defended the province's production performance, claiming it had achieved its wheat output target of 21.9 million tonnes. They also reiterated the provincial government's commitment to maintaining affordable flour and bread prices despite financial pressures, as reported by The Express Tribune.
— ANI
Reader Comments
As a neighbor, this is sad to watch. Pakistan has fertile land and a strong farming base, but when you have political infighting and poor stock management, crises like this happen. India's own wheat procurement system has challenges, but at least we don't have 3.5 million tonnes of deficit looming. Hope they open imports transparently—hoarding by a few shouldn't be allowed.
It's ironic how Pakistan's agriculture policies keep floundering while they produce some of the best wheat varieties. The fact that Punjab (Pakistan) is propping up KP's supply shows how fragmented their system is. India must take note—we need to protect our buffer stocks and not let politics interfere with food security.
Honestly, it's not just Pakistan's problem—global warming is affecting wheat yields everywhere. But the way they're handling this reeks of corruption. Why only 250,000 tonnes from PASSCO? And why are they worried about hoarding now? If they'd managed supplies earlier, this wouldn't happen. India should help if asked, but they need to sort out their internal mess first.
It's heartbreaking to see ordinary Pakistanis suffer because of poor governance. The farmers work so hard, and then the government can't even store or distribute wheat properly. India's own Public Distribution System has flaws, but we at least have strong procurement. Pakistan needs to learn—importing is a band-aid, not a cure. Invest in storage, stop hoarding, and ensure fair prices for farmers.
Interesting to see the Indian perspective here. From a
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