Government Assures No Wheat Shortage

The federal government has ruled out any wheat shortage in the country, stating that seasonal production targets have been achieved and that output is estimated to be 1.36 million metric tonnes higher than last year's harvest. The announcement came during the ninth meeting of the Wheat Board, chaired by Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research Rana Tanveer Hussain.

Provincial representatives informed the meeting that sufficient wheat stocks are available across all regions to meet national requirements. Food officials also warned of a strict crackdown against hoarding, artificial price hikes, and market manipulation. The board expressed satisfaction over the country's wheat situation, stating that strategic production goals for the season have been successfully accomplished.

The meeting was attended by the secretary of the Ministry of National Food Security and Research, chief secretaries of Punjab and Sindh, agriculture and food secretaries from all provinces, senior ministry officials, representatives of the Pakistan Flour Mills Association, and other stakeholders.

Economic Coordination Committee Approvals

In parallel developments, the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the cabinet approved several measures during its meeting, as reported by Dawn. These include the allocation of 175,000 tonnes of 100 per cent fresh indigenous wheat to the Pakistan Army from the 2026-27 crop, an amendment to the Import Policy Order 2022 to incorporate a definition of "forced labour" in line with the ILO Forced Labour Convention 1930, a Rs4.188bn severance package for the Pakistan Agricultural Storage and Services Corporation (Passco), and the auction of 8,198 tonnes of flood-damaged wheat.

The Ministry of Defence had sought the allocation of indigenous wheat, citing that wheat flour is the main staple food for troops deployed in challenging environments from glacial to desert terrains. For the past four years, Passco had supplied 175,000 tonnes to the army on a 50:50 basis, using imported and local wheat. However, imported wheat reportedly caused issues with taste, cooking, and appearance, leading to troops' complaints about the quality of chapatis. In November 2024, the ECC had again decided to allocate wheat at the 50:50 ratio, prompting the army to procure indigenous wheat through private firms. The new decision to supply 100 per cent local fresh-crop produce is expected to save an additional Rs2.8bn in expenditure on imported wheat, according to the military's finance wing.

The ECC also approved a proposal from the Ministry of Commerce to amend the Import Policy Order 2022 by defining "forced labour" in line with ILO standards. This amendment aims to strengthen Pakistan's legal framework governing imports, reinforce compliance with international labour commitments, and enhance trade governance.

Additionally, the ECC approved a Rs4.188bn severance package for Passco, designated for compensation and terminal benefits to eligible employees as part of the orderly winding-up of the corporation. The committee also authorised the auction of 8,198 tonnes of flood-damaged wheat through an open and transparent competitive bidding process, subject to third-party validation.

Key Claims

  • The government has ruled out any wheat shortage, with output estimated to be 1.36 million metric tonnes higher than last year's harvest.
  • The ECC approved the allocation of 175,000 tonnes of 100 per cent indigenous wheat from the 2026-27 crop to the Pakistan Army.
  • The definition of "forced labour" was amended in line with the ILO Forced Labour Convention 1930.
  • Passco received a Rs4.188bn severance package for employee compensation and terminal benefits.
  • The ECC approved the auction of 8,198 tonnes of flood-damaged wheat via competitive bidding.