PM Shehbaz says wheat is plentiful, warns hoarders of no leniency

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said wheat is available in abundance to meet the country’s needs, warning that “no leniency will be shown to those hoarding wheat” as flour prices rise.

He was speaking on Tuesday at the first meeting of the National Agricultural and Food Security Council (NAFSC) in Islamabad, Dawn reported, citing the Prime Minister’s Office.

Wheat price coming soon

“It is essential to determine the fair price of wheat before sowing so that farmers receive appropriate compensation for their labour,” the prime minister said. “We want farmers to get the fair price for wheat and for consumers to have affordable wheat.”

He said the price would be decided in consultation with the provinces. “The consultation with the provinces will be completed soon, and the price of wheat will be announced shortly,” he said.

The government’s priorities

The prime minister called agriculture the “backbone of the national economy” and said it could put Pakistan on the path to growth in the short term. He listed the federal government’s priorities:

• Inputs: fertiliser, quality seed, modern machinery and better water use for farmers at low cost
• Fair prices: especially for small and medium-scale farmers
• Livestock: boosting exports of Pakistani halal meat
• Provinces: “all kinds of support” for agricultural development

He praised Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz for steps such as direct subsidies through the Kisan Card and support for aquaculture and shrimp farming, and said the Sindh government was also working hard for farmers. The meeting was briefed on agricultural development in Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan.

Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, federal ministers including Rana Tanveer Hussain, Ahsan Iqbal and Musadiq Malik, and Sindh Food Minister Makhdoom Mehboob uz Zaman were among those present.

Farmers want a price before sowing

Farmers have been pressing for clarity. Last month, the Pakistan Kissan Ittehad demanded a support price of Rs5,000 per 40kg, warning that farmers might not sow wheat for the next season if the government delayed its crop policies. The association said farmers could not afford balanced fertiliser use because they were not recovering their production costs.

Food Security Minister Rana Tanveer Hussain said last week that Rabi crop targets would be set after an “illustrative price” for wheat was announced. “We are conscious of the challenges faced by our farmers due to rising input, energy and transportation costs,” he said.

Provinces act on flour prices

• Sindh: Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah approved the release of government wheat at Rs12,500 per 100kg bag from October 15 to stabilise flour prices
• Punjab: Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz called an emergency meeting over rising flour prices, increased the subsidised wheat quota for flour mills and approved a Rs10 billion subsidy for affordable flour, the PML-N said

Why it matters

Flour prices have been climbing, and Punjab and Sindh are already spending to hold them down. The government’s promise is two-sided: a fair price for farmers before sowing, and affordable flour for consumers. Read our reports on Sindh’s wheat release to curb flour prices and on the latest rise in flour prices.

This article draws on reporting by Dawn and the Prime Minister’s Office.