ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has decided to set the proposed wheat price at Rs4,500 per maund for 2027, seeking to encourage farmers to grow more wheat, offset rising cultivation expenses and strengthen Pakistan’s domestic food supply.
The initiative is aimed at improving returns for growers facing mounting financial pressure from inflation and higher agricultural costs. The prime minister expressed hope that the proposed rate would help farmers recover their production expenses, earn a reasonable profit and increase wheat cultivation in the coming season.
The decision followed consultations involving President Asif Ali Zardari and PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif, as well as Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz and Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah.
Shehbaz Sharif appreciated Maryam Nawaz’s contribution to the consultations and thanked her for putting forward valuable suggestions. He also acknowledged Murad Ali Shah’s cooperation in the process.
The proposed price is intended to make wheat cultivation more attractive at a time when rising production costs have created financial challenges for farmers. The government hopes that a stronger price incentive will encourage growers to devote more land to the crop and increase the country’s overall wheat output.
Pakistan’s need to import wheat during the past two years has added to the importance of improving domestic production. The prime minister highlighted the need to encourage local cultivation so that the country can strengthen its capacity to meet its food requirements.
The government expects the proposed rate to support farmers’ economic interests while contributing to greater stability in the agricultural sector. Higher domestic output could also strengthen wheat availability and support efforts to improve national food security.
Shehbaz Sharif said increasing local wheat production would help safeguard farmers’ livelihoods and advance the country’s efforts to become more self-sufficient in meeting its food needs. The government expects the initiative to contribute to agricultural development and farmers’ prosperity in 2027.
The Rs4,500-per-maund rate, however, has been described as a proposed or indicative price. It should not be treated as a final, officially implemented government procurement price until the relevant announcement and implementation procedure are confirmed.