The federal government has decided to import one million tonnes of wheat on an urgent basis to address growing supply shortages and stabilize flour prices across the country.

The decision was made after consultations between the federal government and provincial authorities, who reviewed wheat availability, market prices and consumer demand. Officials also agreed to immediately release wheat stocks held by the Pakistan Agricultural Storage and Services Corporation (PASSCO) to provinces based on their individual requirements to ensure the availability of affordable wheat.

According to officials, the combined demand from the provinces exceeds PASSCO’s existing reserves, making imports necessary to bridge the supply gap and prevent further increases in wheat and flour prices. Punjab has reportedly requested one million tonnes of wheat from the federal government, while Sindh has sought at least 220,000 tonnes from available federal stocks.

The move comes amid mounting concerns over declining wheat reserves, rising market prices, and warnings from farmers’ organizations that flawed agricultural policies and insufficient procurement have contributed to the current crisis. Industry representatives have cautioned that the abolition of the wheat support price mechanism and low provincial procurement this season have left the country vulnerable to shortages.

Officials say the imported wheat, along with the release of PASSCO reserves, is intended to meet domestic demand, stabilize the market, and help keep flour prices under control while ensuring uninterrupted supplies for consumers.