KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah on Thursday ordered an intensified crackdown on hoarders and profiteers while directing the Food Department to secure additional wheat supplies to meet a projected deficit of 2.11 million metric tonnes by March 2027, as a high-level review meeting was informed that enforcement operations had already recovered more than 172,000 metric tonnes of concealed wheat, helping improve market availability and ease flour prices across the province.
He issued these orders while presiding over a meeting to review the province’s wheat stock position, market availability, consumption trends and future supply requirements, directing the Food Department to take all necessary measures to ensure uninterrupted availability of wheat and flour across Sindh and prevent any artificial shortage or price manipulation.
The meeting was informed that despite a wheat production of 4.7 million metric tonnes during the 2025-26 season and a carry-forward stock of 140,000 metric tonnes, Sindh is projected to face a wheat deficit of approximately 2.11 million metric tonnes by March 2027, mainly due to consumption requirements and the movement of wheat outside the province.
The Chief Minister emphasised that wheat is a strategic commodity directly linked to food security and public welfare, and therefore no negligence would be tolerated in maintaining adequate stocks and stabilising market prices.
The meeting, held at the CM House, was attended by provincial ministers – Sharjeel Inam Memon, Mukesh Chawla, Jam Khan Shoro, Makhdoom Mahboob Zaman, Muhammad Bux Khan Mahar, Advisor Gianchand Israni, Chief Secretary Asif Hyder Shah, Commissioner Karachi Hassan Naqvi, Chairman CMIT Bilawal memon, Secretary to CM Asif Jameel, Secretary Agriculture Zaman Narejo, and Secretary Food Ghulam Abbas Naich and others.
The Food Department presented a comprehensive assessment of wheat production, consumption, stock visibility and future requirements.
Sindh wheat availability: According to the presentation, Sindh’s total wheat availability for 2026-27 stood at 4.84 MMT, comprising 4.7 MMT of current production and 0.14 MMT of carry-forward stocks.
The province has already consumed or utilised an estimated 2.60 MMT of wheat by July 15, 2026, including 1.90 MMT for human consumption; 0.50 MMT estimated movement outside the province; and 0.20 MMT retained as seed for the next sowing season. This leaves an estimated balance of 2.24 MMT.
However, the Food Department reported that only 1.23 MMT is presently visible in the supply chain, including 81,812 metric tonnes procured by the Food Department; 172,020 metric tonnes seized during enforcement operations; 0.48 MMT reported by flour mills; and 0.50 MMT retained by growers for personal consumption.
The CM noted that around 0.61 MMT of wheat remains unaccounted for and may be concealed or withheld from the market. He directed the food department to intensify operation against hoarders and retrieve the concealed stocks.
Stocks with Food Department: The meeting was informed that the Food Department currently holds a total stock of 393,832 metric tonnes, including 140,000 metric tonnes carry-forward stock; 81,812 metric tonnes procured during the current season; and 172,020 metric tonnes recovered during administrative and anti-hoarding operations; therefore, atta prices have come down.
Deficit forecast and supply plan: The meeting was informed that Sindh will require approximately 4.35 MMT of wheat during the eight months from July 15, 2026 to March 15, 2027. Against the estimated availability of 2.24 MMT, the province is expected to face a deficit of 2.11 MMT.
To bridge the shortfall, PASSCO has offered 220,000 metric tonnes of wheat to Sindh at Rs 4,150 per 40 kilograms, available at storage locations in Khairpur, Naushahro Feroze, Shaheed Benazirabad, and Sanghar districts. After accounting for PASSCO’s offer, the remaining deficit would stand at approximately 1.89 MMT, CM Murad Shah observed.
The Food Department proposed a combination of measures, including further allocations from PASSCO, facilitation of wheat movement from Punjab and, if required, imports to ensure sufficient supplies.
Wheat and flour prices: CM Murad Ali Shah reviewed prevailing wheat and flour prices across the country. In Sindh, wheat prices per 40 kg were reported at Karachi Rs 11,000, Hyderabad Rs 10,800, Sukkur Rs 10,750 and Larkana Rs 10,250. Retail flour prices per kilogram were Karachi Rs130, Hyderabad Rs125, Sukkur Rs118 and Larkana Rs118.
Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah directed the Food Department to immediately prepare a comprehensive wheat management plan to cover the projected deficit and maintain adequate reserves throughout the year. He instructed the Chief Secretary to further intensify anti-hoarding and anti-profiteering operations across the province; and ensure accurate monitoring and reporting of wheat stocks held by traders, mills and large stockists. The CM directed the food department to closely monitor market prices and prevent artificial shortages; and submit fortnightly reports on stock availability, procurement, enforcement actions and market trends.
Addressing the people of Sindh, the Chief Minister assured that the provincial government is fully alert to the wheat situation and will take every necessary step to safeguard food security. “There is no immediate shortage of wheat in the province. The government is closely monitoring stock levels and market conditions and will ensure the uninterrupted availability of wheat and flour at reasonable prices. Hoarding and profiteering will not be tolerated under any circumstances,” the Chief Minister said.
He added that food security remains one of the government’s highest priorities and directed all concerned departments to work proactively to ensure that the people of Sindh do not face any difficulty in accessing wheat and flour during the coming months.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026