Govt orders seamless wheat movement

The federal government has directed provinces and relevant departments to ensure uninterrupted inter-provincial movement of wheat for smooth supply of the staple commodity across the country.

Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research Rana Tanveer Hussain chaired the 11th meeting of the National Wheat Oversight Committee to review the procurement drive, progress on harvesting and prevailing market prices.

He directed all provincial governments and relevant departments to ensure the uninterrupted inter-provincial movement of wheat, stressing that no administrative or logistical barriers should hinder its smooth supply.

The minister stated that wheat prices in the domestic market were aligned with international trends, ranging between Rs3,500 and Rs4,000 per maund, which provided fair returns to farmers while maintaining affordability for consumers. He emphasised that the government was committed to safeguarding the interests of growers through just remuneration and smooth procurement operations.

Rana Tanveer expressed satisfaction over the current wheat reserves and assured meeting participants that sufficient stocks were available to meet domestic consumption requirements and maintain food security. He highlighted that provinces had shown confidence in meeting their wheat production targets for the current season.

He underscored the importance of transparency and efficiency in the procurement process, instructing authorities to facilitate farmers through timely payments, adequate procurement centres and avoiding unnecessary delays. Measures to curb hoarding and profiteering were also discussed, with strict directives to take action against market manipulation.

The federal minister also gave directives for enhanced monitoring of wheat stocks and market trends, along with use of digital tools and data-driven mechanisms for better decision-making. He underlined the need for strengthening storage capacity and minimising post-harvest losses.