The Markazi Kisan League (MKL) has raised a serious alarm over Pakistan’s deepening wheat crisis, warning that flawed agricultural policies, weak planning, and administrative failures are driving prices to unprecedented levels. Farmer leaders cautioned that wheat and flour prices could surge to Rs6,000 per maund, making bread increasingly unaffordable for ordinary citizens.
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The crisis stems largely from the abolition of the wheat support price mechanism under International Monetary Fund (IMF)-related reforms and the failure of provincial governments to procure sufficient wheat from farmers during the current season. Punjab procured only 480,000 tonnes against its target of three million tonnes, while Sindh purchased around 200,000 tonnes, leaving national wheat reserves under severe pressure.
The federal and provincial governments have held multiple emergency meetings to avert the brewing crisis after Punjab and Sindh declared shortages and sought releases from federal reserves . Punjab has demanded one million tonnes from federal stocks, while Sindh has requested at least 220,000 tonnes, officials confirmed. Economic Affairs Minister Ahad Cheema chaired the latest meeting, which reviewed import options but deferred a final decision pending provincial demand estimates.
The MKL leaders called on authorities to fix responsibility for the crisis and formulate a comprehensive wheat policy on an emergency basis. They urged restoration of an effective procurement system and coordinated long-term measures to safeguard Pakistan’s food security.
