The federal government has approved the Wheat Policy 2025–26, setting the official wheat procurement price at Rs3,500 per maund (40kg) to ensure fair returns for farmers and maintain stable food reserves.
The policy was finalized during a high-level meeting chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, attended by the chief ministers of Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan, and Gilgit-Baltistan, the Prime Minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and other stakeholders.
PM Shehbaz emphasized that wheat is Pakistan’s staple food and a vital source of income for farmers, noting that the new policy reflects extensive consultation with provincial governments, farmer organizations, and industry representatives.
Under the new framework, both federal and provincial governments will procure 6.2 million tonnes of wheat from the 2025–26 crop at the set rate, aligned with international import prices. The government will also maintain unrestricted inter-provincial movement of wheat to ensure nationwide availability.
To oversee policy implementation, the Federal Minister for National Food Security will head a National Wheat Monitoring Committee, meeting weekly to coordinate with provinces and report directly to the Prime Minister.
While the government stresses that the policy will safeguard farmer incomes and strengthen food security, concerns persist among growers. Many argue that the announced price does not fully cover their rising production costs, which range between Rs2,800 and Rs3,400 per 40kg, among the highest in South Asia.
By comparison, India’s production cost remains significantly lower, between Rs2,200 and Rs2,250 per 40kg, due to cheaper fertiliser rates regulated by the government. Pakistani farmers continue to face higher input costs, with urea priced at Rs4,600 and DAP at Rs14,700 per 50kg bag, compared to India’s Rs1,200 and Rs4,500 respectively.
Despite these challenges, the policy marks a key step toward ensuring price stability, fair returns, and strategic food reserves, which remain crucial to Pakistan’s agricultural economy.
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