Pakistani Committee Calls for Wheat Price Hike, Uniform Subsidy

A parliamentary committee in Pakistan has recommended that the government set the minimum support price of wheat at Rs5,000 per 40kg or above for the 2026-27 Rabi season. The National Assembly Standing Committee on National Food Security and Research made this recommendation while urging the government to finalize a national wheat policy covering the 2026-30 period before the commencement of the wheat sowing season.

The committee expressed concern over several challenges facing the agriculture sector, including rising input costs, inadequate mechanisation, poor-quality seeds, insufficient agricultural research, limited subsidies, and weak export performance. It called for a uniform subsidy mechanism for farmers across the country, noting differences in provincial approaches.

Minister for National Food Security and Research Rana Tanveer Hussain briefed the committee on last year's interim wheat policy and various subsidy models under consideration. He assured that consultations with all provincial governments would be held within a week to finalize the policy and that it would be announced before the sowing season.