ISLAMABAD, Aug 10 (APP):Punjab has sufficient wheat stocks to meet its consumption needs until the next harvest, with the province producing more than 22 million tonnes this year and the Food Department releasing government held wheat to flour mills at Rs3,800 per 40kg to ensure uninterrupted supplies and stabilise prices. Punjab produced more than 22 million metric tonnes of wheat this year, exceeding the province’s annual consumption requirement by around …
Punjab secures wheat supplies until next harvest
ISLAMABAD, Aug 10 (APP):Punjab has sufficient wheat stocks to meet its consumption needs until the next harvest, with the province producing more than 22 million tonnes this year and the Food Department releasing government held wheat to flour mills at Rs3,800 per 40kg to ensure uninterrupted supplies and stabilise prices.
Punjab produced more than 22 million metric tonnes of wheat this year, exceeding the province’s annual consumption requirement by around 5.5 million metric tonnes.
Speaking to Wealth Pakistan, Director General of the Punjab Food Department Amjad Hafeez said the release of wheat received from the Pakistan Agricultural Storage and Services Corporation (PASSCO) to flour mills had begun under the government’s strategy to ensure uninterrupted flour production and maintain market stability.
He said wheat was being supplied to eligible flour mills at Rs3,800 per 40kg in accordance with approved criteria, with distribution being carried out transparently and on merit.
“The initiative will play an important role in stabilising flour prices by ensuring a steady supply of wheat to flour mills,” he said.
According to Hafeez, the measure was expected to support the availability of flour at government-notified rates, establish a price benchmark in the market and discourage unnecessary price increases.
He said the government’s foremost priority was to ensure that consumers continued to receive quality flour at affordable prices.
“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, to ensure adequate availability and protect consumers from price volatility,” he said.
Responding to a question about wheat imports, Hafeez said any decision on importing wheat rested with the federal government, which determines national requirements based on production, consumption and overall food security considerations.
Flour millers have welcomed the government’s wheat releases as a positive step towards stabilising market prices, while suggesting that broader coverage could further strengthen their impact.
Speaking to Wealth Pakistan, former Central Chairman of the Pakistan Flour Mills Association (PFMA) Asim Ahmad Raza said the government was currently supplying around 30 per cent of Punjab’s daily wheat requirement.
He noted that increasing the volume of releases could help exert greater downward pressure on open-market wheat and flour prices.
He said subsidised wheat was currently being supplied mainly to flour mills in divisional headquarters.
Extending the programme to mills in smaller towns and across Punjab, he added, would broaden its benefits and contribute to greater price stability.
Mr Raza said timely adjustments to the existing wheat policy could help minimise price fluctuations until the arrival of the next crop.
“The government should continue consulting all stakeholders while formulating wheat-sector policies to ensure stable supplies and affordable flour prices,” he said.
