ISLAMABAD: The federal government has approved the wheat policy for 2025-26, with a key decision to lift all restrictions on the inter-provincial movement of wheat, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) announced on Sunday. The move aims to ensure uniform availability of wheat across the country.
This development comes in response to recent restrictions imposed by the Punjab government, which introduced a permit system to regulate the movement of wheat and flour across provincial borders. The policy had drawn strong criticism from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where flour prices have surged due to limited supply.
A high-level meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday, finalized the new wheat policy. It was attended by the chief ministers of Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan, and Gilgit-Baltistan, along with a representative of the KP chief minister, the Prime Minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and other key stakeholders.
Addressing the participants, PM Shehbaz emphasized the significance of wheat to Pakistan’s agriculture-driven economy.
“Wheat is not just a staple for the people but also the main source of income for our farmers,” he said. “Farmers are the backbone of our economy, and their welfare is a top priority.”
The PM highlighted that the new policy was developed through broad-based consultations involving provincial governments, farmers’ associations, and industry representatives. He praised the provinces for their consensus-based support.
The new policy sets the wheat procurement price at Rs3,500 per maund (40kg), aligned with international market prices to ensure both market competitiveness and fair compensation for farmers.
Under the plan, federal and provincial governments will maintain strategic reserves of approximately 6.2 million tonnes from the 2025-26 wheat harvest to support food security and market stability.
To oversee implementation, a National Food Security Coordination Committee—with representation from all provinces—will be established. It will convene weekly meetings and report directly to the prime minister to ensure swift decision-making and accountability.
The PMO assured that fair pricing would be enforced, and the government would procure sufficient stocks to protect farmers’ incomes and maintain stable national reserves.
“This policy will strengthen food security, support the agriculture sector, and raise farmers’ incomes,” the statement concluded.
