The center and the provinces will jointly acquire around 6.2 million tons of wheat as strategic reserves
The federal government approved the National Wheat Policy 2025-26, under which wheat will be purchased from farmers at Rs 3,500 per maund to ensure fair compensation, strengthen strategic reserves and stabilize the market, according to a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office.
The decision was taken during a high-level meeting chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. The meeting was attended by Chief Ministers of Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan and Gilgit-Baltistan, a representative of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister, Azad Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and other key stakeholders.
Prime Minister Shehbaz said that Pakistan’s economy is fundamentally agricultural and wheat plays a central role as the nation’s staple food and as 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 all possible measures for their well-being,” the chief minister said. “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 Prime Minister’s Office, the policy was developed after extensive consultations with provincial governments, farmer organizations, industrial stakeholders and the farming community.
He praised the provinces for their cooperation in formulating a consensus-based policy and expressed confidence that it will improve agricultural productivity and increase farmers’ income.
During the briefing, officials informed those present that the federal and provincial governments will jointly procure around 6.2 million tonnes of wheat from the 2025-26 crop as strategic reserves. The procurement price of Rs 3,500 per maund has been aligned with international wheat import prices to maintain market competitiveness and fair profitability for farmers.
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Under this policy, there will be no restrictions on inter-provincial movement of wheat to ensure availability and price stability across the country.
A National Wheat Monitoring Committee, headed by the federal minister of national food security, will oversee implementation and coordination across provinces. The committee will include representatives from all provincial governments and will hold weekly meetings, reporting directly to the premier.
Officials said the government will ensure adequate stocks of wheat to stabilize supply and protect farmers through fair and transparent procurement. “The policy marks an important milestone towards sustainable agricultural growth, improved farmers’ livelihoods and long-term food security for Pakistan,” the report concluded.
