In a significant policy shift, the federal government has decided not to purchase wheat this year, citing its ongoing commitments under the International Monetary Fund (IMF) agreement, reported 24NewsHD TV channel Monday.
Federal Minister for Food Security Rana Tanveer Hussain, presented a written report in the National Assembly confirming the development. He stated that this decision is directly tied to compliance with the IMF's conditions.
“The wheat production in 2025 is sufficient to meet the national requirements for the 2025-26 season,” the minister assured the house.
However, he added that any import or export of wheat would be decided later based on market demand and dynamics.
To navigate this shift in policy, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has formed a cabinet committee tasked with drafting a new national wheat policy, the minister said.
Furthermore, a cabinet committee on essential commodities, chaired by the Prime Minister himself, has also been constituted.
“So far, this committee has convened two meetings, both led by Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar,” Rana Tanveer informed.
This move marks a departure from decades of federal procurement policy, putting the onus on provincial governments and private entities to manage wheat procurement and supply chains.