Govt to consult provinces before setting wheat price: PM

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Tuesday the government would announce the wheat price after consultations with the provinces, stressing that the decision must be made before the start of sowing to ensure a fair return for growers while keeping the commodity affordable for consumers.

Chairing the first meeting of the National Agriculture and Food Security Council (NAFSC), the prime minister said the government wanted farmers to receive an appropriate price for their produce without putting an undue burden on consumers.

He said sufficient wheat was available to meet the country’s requirements and warned that those involved in hoarding the commodity would not be given any concession.

Describing agriculture as the backbone of the economy, he said the sector had the potential to steer the country towards economic growth in the short term.

He stressed the need to provide farmers, particularly small and medium-sized growers, with fair prices for their produce.

He said the federal government would extend all possible support to the provinces to promote agricultural development.

Priorities included making fertilisers available at affordable rates, ensuring access to quality seeds and modern machinery, and improving water use through appropriate equipment and technical expertise.

He also highlighted the livestock sector’s potential to increase national exports, saying the government was taking steps to boost exports of Pakistani halal meat.

Sharif cited initiatives taken by the Punjab government to support farmers, including aquaculture, shrimp farming and direct subsidies through the Kisan Card programme.

He also acknowledged the Sindh government’s efforts to support growers and improve their access to facilities.

The meeting reviewed provincial measures to promote agriculture in Punjab and Sindh.

Officials also briefed participants on agricultural development initiatives in Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, National Food Security Minister Rana Tanveer Hussain, Climate Change Minister Musadik Malik, Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan, Economic Affairs Minister Ahad Cheema, Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal and Information Minister Attaullah Tarar attended the meeting, along with advisers Rana Sanaullah and Haroon Akhtar.

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, Sindh Agriculture Minister Makhdoom Mahboob Zaman and senior officials were also present.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026