Centre and provinces to jointly procure around 6.2m tons of wheat as strategic reserves
The federal government has approved the National Wheat Policy 2025–26, under which wheat will be purchased from farmers at Rs3,500 per maund to ensure fair compensation, strengthen strategic reserves, and stabilise the market, stated a release issued from the Prime Minister Office.
The decision was taken during a high-level meeting chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. The meeting was attended by the chief ministers of Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan, and Gilgit-Baltistan, a representative of the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa chief minister, the prime minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and other key stakeholders.
PM Shehbaz said that Pakistan’s economy is fundamentally agricultural, and wheat plays a central role as both the staple food for the nation and the main source of livelihood for millions of farmers.
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“The government is fully aware of the challenges faced by our farmers and is taking every possible step for their welfare,” the PM stated. “Farmers are the backbone of Pakistan’s economy, and this policy ensures their prosperity while safeguarding the nation’s food security,” he added.
According to the PM’s Office, the policy was developed after extensive consultations with provincial governments, farmer organisations, industrial stakeholders, and the agricultural community.
He praised the provinces for their cooperation in framing a consensus-based policy, expressing confidence that it will enhance agricultural productivity and increase farmers’ income.
During the briefing, officials informed the meeting that the federal and provincial governments will jointly procure around 6.2 million tons of wheat from the 2025–26 crop as strategic reserves. The procurement price of Rs3,500 per maund has been aligned with international wheat import prices to maintain market competitiveness and fair profitability for growers.
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Under the policy, there will be no restrictions on interprovincial movement of wheat to ensure nationwide availability and price stability.
A National Wheat Monitoring Committee, headed by the federal minister for national food security, will supervise implementation and coordination across provinces. The committee will include representatives from all provincial governments and will hold weekly meetings, reporting directly to the prime minister.
Officials said the government will ensure adequate wheat stocks to stabilise supply and protect farmers through fair and transparent procurement. “The policy marks a major milestone toward sustainable agricultural growth, improved farmer livelihoods, and long-term food security for Pakistan,” the briefing concluded.
