پاکستان نے 10 لاکھ ٹن گندم درآمد کرنے کا فیصلہ کیوں کیا؟

Pakistan's Shocking U-Turn: Why the Country Decided to Import 10 Million Tons of Wheat

Background & Context

Pakistan is the world's eighth-largest producer of wheat, with the country's agricultural sector playing a crucial role in its economy. According to government data, Pakistan produced approximately 2.96 million tons of wheat during the 2025-26 season, a significant increase of 13.6 million tons from the previous year. However, just two weeks ago, the federal government claimed that there was no shortage of wheat in the country and that the reserves were sufficient. So, what led to the sudden decision to import 10 million tons of wheat?

Key Details

On July 24, Federal Minister for National Food Security, Rana Tanveer Hussain, announced that the government would import 10 million tons of wheat to meet the needs of the provinces and maintain market stability. He also stated that wheat from the PASSCO reserves would be distributed to the provinces to ensure that the wheat is available to the public at reasonable prices. However, the question remains: if there was sufficient wheat in the country, why was the import decision taken? The Independent Urdu attempted to seek the minister's response on this matter, but no response was received before the news was published. On the other hand, the Chairman of the Pakistan Flour Mills Association, Punjab, Riazullah Khan, told The Independent Urdu that the market is facing a shortage of at least 10 million tons of wheat, and it was the association that had suggested the import of wheat to the government. Khan stated that the wheat prices have risen to around Rs. 4,000 per maund, and there are about eight months left for the next harvest season. He attributed the shortage to the fact that the government had not purchased wheat in sufficient quantities last year, and the farmers did not receive fair prices for their produce. As a result, the cultivation of wheat was reduced this year, leading to the current shortage. However, the Sindh government attributes the crisis to a different factor. Sindh, the second-largest wheat-producing province in the country, is currently facing a shortage of around 16 million metric tons of wheat. The Sindh government has requested the federal government and the Trading Corporation of Pakistan to provide 5 million metric tons of wheat to meet the demand. Sadia Javed, the spokesperson for the Sindh government, stated that the problem is not just a shortage of production but also hoarding by big traders, which has led to artificial scarcity and rising prices of flour. As a result, the Sindh government is cracking down on hoarders, conducting raids on godowns, imposing fines, and exporting the hoarded wheat. She also attributed the crisis to inadequate government purchases. Javed pointed out that the federal government had fixed the procurement price of wheat at around Rs. 3,000 per maund, whereas the market price was around Rs. 4,000 per maund. As a result, the farmers sold their wheat to private buyers, rather than to the government, leading to a shortfall in government procurement.

What Experts Say

The wheat crisis has sparked a heated debate among experts and stakeholders. While some attribute the shortage to a combination of factors, including inadequate government purchases and hoarding by big traders, others believe that the government should focus on providing support to local farmers to increase production. Syed Tahir, a farmer from Okara, pointed out that his wheat production this year was around 15% lower than the previous year, but importing wheat from abroad is not the solution. He suggested that the government should focus on providing subsidies to farmers, improving the procurement price, and reducing the cost of agricultural inputs such as fertilizers and diesel.

Key Takeaways

• The government has decided to import 10 million tons of wheat to meet the demands of the provinces and maintain market stability.
• The Sindh government attributes the wheat crisis to hoarding by big traders and inadequate government purchases.
• Local farmers are facing a shortage of wheat, and the government should focus on providing support to increase production.
• The government should fix the procurement price of wheat at a level that is competitive with the market price to ensure that farmers sell their produce to the government.

What This Means For You

The wheat crisis has significant implications for the country's food security and the economy. The government's decision to import 10 million tons of wheat will not only alleviate the immediate shortage but also help to stabilize the market. However, the root causes of the crisis, including inadequate government purchases and hoarding by big traders, need to be addressed to prevent such shortages in the future. The government should focus on providing support to local farmers to increase production, fix the procurement price of wheat at a competitive level, and take measures to prevent hoarding by big traders. By doing so, the country can ensure food security and stability in the wheat market.