Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has approved the release of government wheat at a subsidised rate of Rs12,500 per 100kg, effective October 15, 2026, in a bid to stabilise flour prices and ensure adequate supplies in the market. The decision was taken during a meeting of the Food Department chaired by the chief minister at the Chief Minister House.
Provincial ministers Mukesh Kumar Chawla, Jam Khan Shoro and Makhdoom Mehboob Zaman, Advisor Gianchand Israni, Chief Secretary Asif Hyder Shah, Secretary to the Chief Minister Asif Jameel, Food Secretary Ghulam Abbas Naich and other senior officials attended the meeting.
Reviewing the wheat stock position, Murad Ali Shah directed the Food Department to begin releasing wheat from October 15 and closely monitor market prices to ensure that the government intervention translates into relief for consumers.
Food Minister Makhdoom Mehboob Zaman informed the meeting that 346,414 metric tonnes of wheat are currently available in government stocks across Sindh. The meeting was further informed that 190,000 metric tonnes from PASSCO and 300,000 metric tonnes of imported wheat would be added to the provincial reserves, taking the total wheat available for release to 836,414 metric tonnes.
Karachi currently has 135,948 metric tonnes of wheat in stock, which is expected to increase to 565,948 metric tonnes after the arrival of PASSCO and imported supplies. Another 30,000 metric tonnes from PASSCO stocks have been allocated to Hyderabad, while 60,000 metric tonnes have been earmarked for Mirpurkhas and Shaheed Benazirabad.
The meeting was informed that Sindh released 974,982 metric tonnes of wheat into the market last year. Officials said the additional PASSCO and imported stocks would help strengthen supplies and contain price fluctuations.
According to the briefing, wheat is currently being sold at around Rs13,200 per 100kg in Karachi’s open market, while retail flour prices range between Rs165 and Rs170 per kilogram. On October 1, wheat was priced at Rs12,400 per 100kg, while flour was selling for Rs160 to Rs165 per kilogram.
After reviewing wheat stocks, market conditions and the impact of the subsidy, the chief minister approved the release of government wheat at Rs12,500 per 100kg from October 15. Murad Ali Shah said the government’s priority was to ensure an uninterrupted wheat supply, maintain price stability and protect consumers from sharp increases in flour prices.