Govt to maintain wheat reserves of up to 6m tonnes to ensure uninterrupted supply: minister

Pakistan plans to hold strategic wheat stocks of as much as 6 million tonnes, Food Security Minister Rana Tanveer Hussain said on Monday, adding that supplies were expected to cover this year’s national needs. He said the reserve was intended to keep wheat moving and provide a buffer against disruptions. The announcement follows the government’s decision to set an indicative wheat price of Rs4,500 per 40kg for 2027, Rs1,000 above last year’s level.

Hussain said more than 1.3 million tonnes from Pakistan Agricultural Storage and Services Corporation stocks had been supplied to provinces, while imports of up to 550,000 tonnes could be arranged if required. He described the recent rise in wheat prices as artificial and said the government was monitoring the market and would act against speculative trading and unjustified increases. Pakistan Kissan Ittehad welcomed the support price, although it had previously sought Rs5,000 per 40kg.