Islamabad, Feb 7: Pakistan has confirmed that it will not import wheat this year due to sufficient stock availability, as stated by Waseem Ajmal Chaudhry, Secretary of the Ministry of National Food Security and Research (MNFS&R), during a meeting of the National Assembly Standing Committee on National Food Security and Research.
He also confirmed that the government would not announce a support price for wheat in the 2024-25 season, in line with the agreement made with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to deregulate wheat prices.
Chaudhry reassured the committee that neither the federal nor provincial governments would need to import wheat in 2024, as the provinces currently hold adequate reserves. He emphasized that there were no concerns about the availability of wheat, and the private sector would be involved in enhancing storage capacity to maintain sufficient supplies.
In response to a query by MNA Muhammad Naeem Watto, Chaudhry revealed that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had established a committee to devise a wheat procurement plan for the upcoming food year 2024-25, with recommendations expected soon.
However, Watto expressed concern about potential wheat shortages in the coming seasons, noting that unfavorable weather conditions, including high temperatures and low rainfall in Punjab, might negatively impact this year’s wheat production. He warned that if wheat prices remain unreasonable, farmers might be discouraged from cultivating wheat in the next season.
In addition, Chaudhry informed the committee that projects included in the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) would be part of the Uraan Pakistan economic plan, which is overseen by the Prime Minister and the Planning Commission. Committee Chairman Syed Hussain Tariq emphasized the need for a long-term food security strategy, particularly in light of Pakistan’s expected population growth over the next decade.
He urged the ministry to present a comprehensive plan for food security, with the committee also being briefed on the continuation of 18 out of 26 ongoing schemes into the next fiscal year, along with the introduction of 36 new projects. The meeting was attended by several MNAs, including Rana Muhammad Hayat Khan, Waseem Qadir, Nadeem Abbas, Zulfiqar Ali Behan, Muhammad Ameer Sultan, and Keso Mal Kheal Das.
