Punjab's Wheat Stocks Meet Consumption Needs Until Next Harvest

Punjab's wheat stocks have been deemed sufficient to meet the province's consumption requirements until the next harvest, thanks to a record-breaking crop this year. The Punjab Food Department reports that over 22 million metric tonnes of wheat were produced in the region, exceeding annual consumption needs by approximately 5.5 million metric tonnes.

Amjad Hafeez, Director General of the Punjab Food Department, stated that wheat releases from the Pakistan Agricultural Storage and Services Corporation (PASSCO) to flour mills have begun under the government's strategy to ensure uninterrupted flour production and maintain market stability. Wheat is being supplied to eligible flour mills at Rs3,800 per 40 kilograms in accordance with approved criteria.

Hafeez emphasized that this initiative will play a significant role in stabilizing flour prices by ensuring a steady supply of wheat to flour mills. He also noted that the government's primary concern is to ensure consumers receive quality flour at affordable prices. As part of this effort, approximately 850,000 to 900,000 bags of 10kg and 20kg flour are being supplied daily across Punjab at notified prices of Rs1,100 and Rs2,200, respectively.

However, some flour millers have expressed concerns about the current wheat releases not being sufficient to stabilize market prices. Asim Ahmad Raza, former Central Chairman of the Pakistan Flour Mills Association (PFMA), stated that the government is currently supplying only around 30% of Punjab's daily wheat requirement, which may limit the impact on open-market wheat and flour prices.