ISLAMABAD: The federal government has approved the import of 1 million tons of wheat to meet the country’s requirements and maintain adequate supplies in the domestic market.
Federal Minister for National Food Security Rana Tanveer Hussain said the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC)Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) will make a final decision next week on how the wheat will be imported. The government is considering whether the imports should be carried out through the public sector or whether private companies should be allowed to bring wheat into the country.
Rana Tanveer Hussain said a decision on the import mechanism is expected next week under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. The government is assessing the country’s wheat requirements and market conditions before finalising the process.
The federal minister said the provinces have also communicated their wheat requirements to the federal government. Punjab has reported a requirement of 800,000 tons, making it the largest demand among the provinces mentioned.
Sindh has informed the government that it requires around 700,000 tons of wheat, while Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has reported a requirement of 500,000 tons. The figures reflect the provinces’ stated needs as the government reviews wheat availability across the country.
The decision to import wheat comes as authorities focus on maintaining supplies and preventing a potential gap between demand and availability. The government is expected to assess domestic stocks, market prices and provincial requirements before finalising the import arrangements.
A key issue still to be settled is whether the government itself will manage the wheat imports or allow the private sector to participate. The ECC is expected to take up the matter during its meeting next week and determine the mechanism for bringing the wheat into Pakistan.
