The Pakistan Flour Mills Association (PFMA) Sindh has accused the Punjab government of fueling an artificial wheat crisis in Pakistan and urged the federal authorities to allow the import of wheat. According to PFMA, the ongoing restrictions on transporting wheat between provinces will intensify the situation in the coming days, sparking fears of another flour shortage.
Punjab unexpectedly enforced a ban on inter-provincial wheat movement at the end of last week. He highlighted that wheat harvesting in Sindh starts as early as February, supplying Punjab and other regions, whereas Punjab’s crop arrives later in the season.
Junaid stated that after meeting its internal demand, Punjab abruptly halted wheat supply to other provinces, which has led to a wheat shortage in Sindh, Balochistan, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
He stressed that since wheat has been deregulated, no province has the authority to restrict its transport under Article 151 of the Constitution of Pakistan. However, this constitutional right is being ignored, fueling public frustration and unrest.
The PFMA chairman criticised Punjab’s approach, saying that instead of restricting wheat supply, the government should have acknowledged the devastation caused by recent floods and supported wheat distribution across provinces. The sudden ban has placed billions worth of stored wheat in jeopardy while also limiting access to affordable flour for citizens.
He added that Punjab produces nearly 70% of the country’s total wheat, leaving the other provinces dependent on its supply. Such unilateral measures have deepened provincial grievances and disrupted the availability of the staple food.
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The Pakistan Flour Mills Association has demanded that the federal government immediately lift the inter-provincial restrictions on wheat and flour transportation to stabilise the market and address the ongoing wheat crisis in Pakistan.
