Federal Minister Rana Tanveer Hussain has assured the public that wheat prices are expected to return to normal within the next few days, offering potential relief to consumers facing rising flour prices amid concerns over wheat shortages.
The minister attributed the recent increase in wheat prices to artificial price hikes and the intervention of certain elements in the market. He said the country had sufficient wheat stocks and there was no need for the public to panic.
According to Rana Tanveer Hussain, the federal government has fixed the wheat price at Rs4,500 per 40-kilogram maund in consultation with all provincial governments. He said the decision was aimed at protecting farmers’ interests and ensuring consensus on the national wheat pricing policy.
The minister also announced that the government had formulated a comprehensive national wheat policy for the first time in 40 years.
He said Pakistan would maintain strategic wheat reserves of up to six million metric tonnes this year to ensure an adequate supply and prevent shortages.
Rana Tanveer Hussain added that more than 1.3 million metric tonnes of wheat had already been supplied to the provinces from Pakistan Agricultural Storage and Services Corporation (PASSCO) stocks.
He further said arrangements could be made to import up to 550,000 metric tonnes of wheat, depending on provincial demand.
The minister emphasised that the government would prioritise purchasing wheat from local farmers rather than relying on imported supplies, adding that sufficient stocks were available to meet the country’s needs.
