Key Takeaways
- Farmers warn wheat prices could rise to Rs. 6,000 per maund.
- Punjab and Sindh failed to procure sufficient wheat during the current harvest season.
- Government seeks additional imports amid looming shortage.
Farmers have issued a stark warning that Pakistan’s wheat crisis is worsening due to policy failures, potentially pushing prices as high as Rs. 6,000 per maund, making flour and bread increasingly unaffordable for consumers.
In a joint statement, Markazi Kisan League (MKL) Chairman Chaudhry Zulfiqar Ali Olakh and President Muhammad Ashfaq Warraich highlighted the government’s failure to address repeated warnings about a looming wheat shortage. They blamed the abolition of the wheat support price mechanism under International Monetary Fund (IMF)-linked reforms, as well as the failure of provincial governments to procure sufficient wheat during the current harvest season.
According to MKL, Punjab procured only 480,000 tonnes against a target of 3 million tonnes, while Sindh purchased around 200,000 tonnes. The organization noted that Pakistan imported nearly 3.5 million tonnes of wheat worth more than $1 billion last year but still faces an estimated wheat shortfall of 3.5 million tonnes.
The MKL leaders warned that additional imports may become unavoidable, putting further pressure on the country’s foreign exchange reserves. They stated that wheat prices have already risen sharply over the past month and could climb to Rs. 6,000 per maund if corrective measures are not taken immediately.
As the federal and provincial governments continue discussions on tackling the emerging shortage, Punjab has sought one million tonnes of wheat from federal reserves, while Sindh has requested at least 220,000 tonnes. Officials are also reviewing the possibility of importing more wheat, with a final decision expected after provinces submit their updated demand estimates.
The situation is particularly concerning as the government seeks to balance economic stability and food security in the face of rising prices. Farmers’ unions have called for urgent action to prevent further escalation of costs, which could impact millions of households across Pakistan.
