Pakistan Approves Import of 1 Million Tons of Wheat Amid Supply Concerns

Pakistan has approved the import of 1 million tons of wheat to prevent a further rise in flour and roti prices, amid concerns over the country's dwindling strategic reserves. The government completed the prerequisites set by the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) before approving the import through an open tender and competitive bidding process.

The Trading Corporation of Pakistan (TCP) will issue tenders and follow the standard procurement procedure. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar confirmed that TCP would conduct the import through an open tendering process.

The decision comes as the country's wheat supply remains tight, with significant quantities reportedly being held by hoarders and middlemen in anticipation of higher prices. Although Pakistan produced around 28.6 million tons of wheat, enough to broadly meet domestic demand, strategic stocks are now critically low due to inadequate government procurement.