ISLAMABAD: The government has formulated a national wheat policy after 40 years and fixed the wheat price at Rs4,500 per maund in consultation with all provinces, while planning to maintain strategic reserves of up to six million tonnes to ensure food security and prevent shortages.
Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research Rana Tanveer Hussain said this while speaking to the media in the federal capital, adding that the decision on wheat pricing had been taken through provincial consultation and consensus.
He said the government would maintain strategic wheat reserves of up to six million metric tonnes during the current year, asserting that there was no shortage of wheat in the country.
According to the minister, more than 1.3 million metric tonnes of wheat had already been supplied to the provinces from PASSCO stocks. He added that arrangements could be made to import up to 550,000 metric tonnes of wheat if required to meet domestic demand.
Rana Tanveer said the recent increase in wheat prices was artificial and expressed the expectation that prices would return to normal levels within the next few days. He said the government was taking measures to prevent artificial shortages and unjustified price increases.
The minister added that the government would give priority to purchasing wheat from local farmers, signalling a focus on supporting domestic agricultural production while maintaining adequate supplies for consumers.
Meanwhile, Pakistan Kissan Ittehad President Khalid Mahmood Khokhar welcomed the decision to fix the wheat price at Rs4,500 per maund, saying farmers needed a fair and stable price for their produce.
The effectiveness of the new policy will depend on its implementation, the management of strategic reserves and coordination between the federal and provincial governments to maintain stable supplies and protect both farmers and consumers from sharp price fluctuations.