ISLAMABAD, Oct 1 (APP): The National Assembly Standing Committee on National Food Security and Research on Thursday recommended fixing the minimum support price (MSP) of wheat at Rs 5,000 per 40 kg or above, while calling for a uniform subsidy mechanism for farmers across the country. The committee met with Syed Tariq Hussain in chair, and also stressed that the National Wheat Policy 2026–2030 must be finalized and announced before …
NA body recommends Rs 5,000 per 40kg wheat support price, uniform subsidy for farmers
ISLAMABAD, Oct 1 (APP): The National Assembly Standing Committee on National Food Security and Research on Thursday recommended fixing the minimum support price (MSP) of wheat at Rs 5,000 per 40 kg or above, while calling for a uniform subsidy mechanism for farmers across the country.
The committee met with Syed Tariq Hussain in chair, and also stressed that the National Wheat Policy 2026–2030 must be finalized and announced before the commencement of the wheat sowing season, observing that decisions taken after sowing would have little practical value for farmers.
The committee expressed concern over the major challenges facing the agriculture sector, including rising input costs, inadequate mechanization, poor-quality seeds, insufficient agricultural research, limited subsidies, inadequate storage facilities, weak export performance and the absence of uniform and timely agricultural policies.
Discussing the wheat policy, the Minister for National Food Security and Research briefed the Committee on last year’s interim wheat policy, the proposed National Wheat Policy 2026–2030 and various subsidy models under consideration.
He informed the Committee 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.
The committee emphasized the need for a uniform subsidy program across the country, noting differences in provincial approaches. It was informed that Punjab was considering support through the Kissan Card, Sindh was providing assistance to farmers having up to 25 acres, while Khyber Pakhtunkhwa will be providing an in-kind subsidy of Rs 5,000.
The committee called for a simple and accessible mechanism that benefits farmers across the country.
Members also raised concerns about the availability of storage and marketing arrangements after the closure of PASSCO, noting that farmers would have limited alternatives for storing and marketing their wheat.
They observed that private storage facilities often demand advance payments, creating additional financial pressure on farmers. Members also highlighted the high cost of fertilizers and other agricultural inputs and called for measures to reduce production costs and ensure the timely availability of inputs.
The Minister urged Members to engage with their respective provincial governments and encourage their participation in the national wheat policy. The Committee emphasized that agriculture is a key pillar of the national economy and called for coordinated measures to improve farmers’ profitability and agricultural productivity.
The committee also discussed rice exports and was informed that a good rice crop was expected this year. It called for enhanced efforts to expand export markets and improve the competitiveness of Pakistani agricultural products.
The Minister informed the committee that the Governments of Saudi Arabia and Iran had encouraged their private sectors to purchase agricultural products from Pakistan, while free trade arrangements with the Gulf Cooperation Council countries were expected to create further export opportunities.
The committee appreciated the efforts of the Prime Minister and the Minister for National Food Security and Research in promoting agricultural exports and also acknowledged the Government of Sindh’s subsidy initiatives, including its allocation of Rs. 25 billion for the agriculture sector subsidy.
The committee called for strict action against hoarders involved in the artificial price increases of DAP and other fertilizers and urged the Ministry to take timely decisions on agricultural policies and support measures.
The committee also considered the Seed (Amendment) Bill, 2026. With the consent of the Minister, consideration of the Bill was deferred until the next meeting. The Minister stated that the proposed amendments were aimed at improving the Bill passed by the Committee in 2024 and included the merger of the Federal Seed Certification Department into the Authority.
The committee sought clarification on certain new provisions and recommended necessary corrections.
The committee further directed the National Seed Development and Regulatory Authority (NSDRA) to brief it on initiatives and progress since 2024 and submit the rules and regulations required for the functioning of the Authority within the prescribed period following the enactment of the Bill, in 2024.
The committee reiterated the Ministry to ensure timely decisions, recommended a minimum support price of Rs. 5,000 per 40 kg or above, and called for an easy and uniform subsidy program for all farmers across the country. It also directed the NSDRA to brief the Committee on its progress since 2024 and submit the required rules and regulations.
The meeting was attended by the Members of the National Assembly (MNAs) including Waseem Qadir, Choudhary Iftikhar Nazir, Abdul Qadir Khan, Nazir Ahmed Bhugio, Syed Javed Ali Shah Jillani, Syed Abrar Ali Shah, Zulfiqar Ali Behan, Usman Ali and Sanjay Perwani.
Senior officials from the Ministry of National Food Security and Research, Ministry of Law and Justice, and the National Seed Development and Regulatory Authority (NSDRA) also attended the meeting.
