Pakistan Seeks Emergency Wheat Supplies Amid Soaring Shortage

Pakistan is taking steps to address its growing wheat shortage by releasing stored stocks and importing one million tonnes of wheat. The move aims to improve availability, prevent price increases, and maintain a steady supply across the country.

According to officials, the available wheat stocks from the Pakistan Agricultural Storage and Services Corporation (PASSCO) will be distributed to provinces based on their requirements. This decision comes as farmers' representatives warn that the crisis is becoming more serious due to weak planning, poor policy decisions, and administrative failures.

The government has approved the import of 1 million tonnes of wheat to meet national demand and reduce pressure on the local market. The combined demand from provinces exceeds the available federal storage, making imports necessary. Punjab has requested 1 million tonnes of wheat, while Sindh has asked for at least 220,000 tonnes.

Farmers' leaders have blamed the government's decision to end the wheat support price system under IMF reforms and provincial governments' failure to buy enough wheat from farmers during the harvest season. They warn that higher food prices will place an additional financial burden on households across the country.