Center and provinces must jointly purchase around 6.2 million. tons of wheat as strategic reserves
The federal government has approved the National Wheat Policy 2025-26 under which wheat will be bought from farmers at Rs 3,500. per mound to ensure fair compensation, strengthen strategic reserves and stabilize the market, a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office said.
The decision was taken during a high-level meeting chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. The meeting was attended by the Chief Ministers of Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan and Gilgit-Baltistan, a representative of the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister, the Prime Minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir and other key stakeholders.
Prime Minister Shehbaz said Pakistan’s economy is fundamentally agricultural and wheat plays a central role as both the staple food of the nation and 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 steps for their welfare,” the Prime Minister said. “Farmers are the backbone of Pakistan’s economy and this policy ensures their prosperity while protecting the nation’s food security,” he added.
According to the Prime Minister’s Office, the policy was developed after extensive consultations with provincial governments, farmers’ organizations, industrial stakeholders and the farming community.
He commended the provinces for their cooperation in formulating a consensus-based policy and expressed confidence that it will increase agricultural productivity and increase farmers’ income.
During the briefing, officials informed the meeting that the federal and provincial governments will jointly procure about 6.2 million tonnes of wheat from the 2025-2026 crop as strategic reserves. The purchase price of Rs.3,500. per mound has been adjusted to international wheat import prices to maintain market competitiveness and fair profitability for growers.
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Under the policy, there will be no restrictions on inter-provincial movement of wheat to ensure nationwide availability and price stability.
A National Wheat Monitoring Committee, chaired by the Federal Minister for 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 Prime Minister.
Officials said the government will ensure adequate wheat stocks 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 briefing concluded.
