Govt to announce wheat price after provincial consultations

Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, Tuesday, terming agriculture as the backbone of the national economy, said it has the potential to steer Pakistan's economy on the path of development in a short span of time. The prime minister chaired the first meeting of the National Agriculture and Food Security Council (NAFSC). The prime minister observed that the livestock sector also possessed vast potential to increase national exports and the government was taking steps to increase Pakistan's halal meat exports. He said that the federal government would provide all kinds of cooperation to the provinces for agricultural development, adding that providing farmers with low-cost fertilizer, quality seeds, modern machinery and equipment and technical capabilities for the better use of water was a top priority. The prime minister expressed his satisfaction at the availability of wheat to meet domestic requirements and warned that no leniency would be shown to those hoarding wheat. He further stressed that ensuring a fair price for farmers' crops, especially small and medium-scale farmers, is a priority, adding that it was necessary to determine the correct price of wheat before sowing so that farmers received appropriate compensation for their hard work. 'We want farmers to get the right price for wheat and consumers to avail of affordable wheat. The decision regarding the price of wheat will be made in consultation with the provinces,' the press release quoted him as saying. During the meeting, the prime minister lauded Chief Minister of Punjab for taking commendable steps such as farmers' development, aquaculture, shrimp farming, and providing direct subsidies to farmers through the Kisan Card. He also appreciated the chief minister Sindh for his hard work for the development of farmers and providing them with facilities. During the meeting, the chief minister Punjab and the Sindh Minister for Food highlighted the steps taken by their respective provincial governments for the development of farmers in their respective provinces. During the meeting, briefings were also given on the steps taken for agricultural development in Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan. Separately, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar on Tuesday reviewed wheat import progress and expressed satisfaction that sufficient supplies had been arranged as per the demand of the provinces. Chairing the 7th Meeting of the Steering Committee on Wheat Imports for Food Year 2026–27, the deputy prime minister said first shipment was scheduled to reach Karachi before end of this month. The DPM emphasized that the imported stocks along with PASSCO supplies already allocated to provinces should be utilised for price stability to create ease for the consumers. The meeting was attended by the Ministers for National Food Security and Research, Commerce, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) Tariq Bajwa, Secretary Ministry of National Food Security & Research (MNFSR), relevant provincial secretaries, and other relevant stakeholders.