Pakistan Faces Worsening Wheat Shortage Crisis

Pakistan is facing a worsening wheat shortage after weak procurement by provincial governments and the removal of the wheat support price mechanism reduced public grain stocks, increasing concerns that wheat prices could climb to Rs6,000 per maund.

Punjab managed to procure only 480,000 tonnes of wheat against its target of three million tonnes, while Sindh purchased nearly 200,000 tonnes. Despite importing around 3.5 million tonnes of wheat worth more than $1 billion last year, Pakistan is still estimated to face a wheat deficit of 3.5 million tonnes.

Federal and provincial authorities met on Monday for the second time within five days to discuss the growing shortage after Punjab and Sindh requested wheat releases from federal reserves to help stabilize market prices.

Punjab has sought one million tonnes of wheat from the federal government, while Sindh has requested at least 220,000 tonnes from federal stocks stored in warehouses across the province, according to officials who attended the meeting.

The meeting, chaired by Economic Affairs Minister Ahad Cheema, also reviewed the option of importing wheat. However, a final decision was postponed until all four provinces submit their demand estimates. Another meeting was expected within 24 hours as wheat and flour prices increased by 6%.

The shortages in Punjab and Sindh have been attributed to the abolition of the wheat support price two years ago under an IMF-related condition without introducing a reliable replacement system, along with the failure of both provinces to purchase adequate quantities of wheat from farmers this season.

Agriculture sector representatives warned that wheat prices could reach Rs6,000 per maund if immediate corrective measures are not implemented, making flour and bread significantly more expensive for consumers.

In a joint statement, Markazi Kisan League Chairman Chaudhry Zulfiqar Ali Olakh and President Muhammad Ashfaq Warraich said the crisis was the result of ineffective agricultural policies, poor planning, and administrative shortcomings.

They called on both the federal and provincial governments to restore an effective wheat procurement system, introduce an emergency wheat policy, and implement coordinated long-term reforms to safeguard food security, farmers, and consumers.