Wheat Import Decision on Hold Amid Provincial Authority Dispute

The federal government has delayed making a decision on importing one million tons of wheat due to uncertainty over which level of authority will be responsible for the process.

Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research Rana Tanveer Hussain told the National Assembly Standing Committee on National Food Security and Research that the Centre prefers provinces undertake imports, with necessary approvals granted by the federal government.

The imported wheat would cost between Rs4,200 and Rs4,300 per maund, according to the minister. He stated that his ministry has asked all provinces for updated information on their wheat reserves before proceeding.

The Centre still holds around one million tons of wheat in stock after supplying Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan. A summary seeking approval from the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) to import another one million tons has been moved, while a steering committee has been established to oversee the process.