Center and provinces to jointly acquire around 6.2 million tonnes of wheat as strategic reserves
The federal government has approved the National Wheat Policy 2025-2026, under which wheat will be purchased from farmers at Rs 3,500 per mah to ensure fair compensation, strengthen strategic reserves and stabilize the market, said a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office.
The decision was taken at 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 Chief Minister of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, the Prime Minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir and other key stakeholders.
Prime Minister Shehbaz said that Pakistan’s economy is fundamentally agricultural and wheat plays a central role both as a staple food for the nation and the main source of income 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 welfare,” the Prime Minister said. “Farmers are the backbone of Pakistan’s economy, and this policy ensures their prosperity while preserving the country’s food security,” he added.
According to the Prime Minister’s Office, the policy was developed after extensive consultations with provincial governments, agricultural organizations, industry stakeholders and the agricultural community.
He commended the provinces for their cooperation in developing a consensus-based policy, expressing confidence that it will improve agricultural productivity and increase farmers’ income.
During the briefing, officials informed participants that the federal and provincial governments would jointly purchase about 6.2 million tonnes of wheat from the 2025-2026 harvest as strategic reserves. The purchase price of Rs 3,500 per mound has been aligned with international wheat import prices to maintain market competitiveness and fair profitability for producers.
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Under this policy, there will be no restrictions on interprovincial movements of wheat to ensure availability and price stability nationally.
A national wheat monitoring committee, led by the federal minister of national food security, will oversee implementation and coordination between provinces. The committee will include representatives from all provincial governments and will hold weekly meetings, reporting directly to the premier.
Officials said the government would ensure adequate wheat stocks to stabilize supply and protect farmers through fair and transparent procurement. “This policy marks a major step towards sustainable agricultural growth, improved farmer livelihoods and long-term food security for Pakistan,” the briefing paper concludes.
