IMF consulted before fixing wheat price, says Rana Tanveer
ISLAMABAD: The government has taken the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on board before fixing the wheat price at Rs4,500 per maund, Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research Rana Tanveer Hussain said on Monday.
Addressing a press conference here on Monday, the minister said the national wheat policy was formulated after nearly four decades to protect farmers’ interests and ensure food security.
The minister, accompanied by Pakistan Kissan Ittehad President Khalid Mahmood Khokhar, added that the government had reached a consensus with the provinces on the wheat price to protect farmers’ interests, stabilise the market and strengthen national food security.
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He announced that the government would maintain strategic wheat reserves of up to six million tonnes during the current year to ensure uninterrupted supplies and prevent shortages. He categorically ruled out a wheat shortage, saying sufficient stocks were available to meet the country’s requirements. Replying to a question the minister said that there should be some kind of regulated market for wheat as it was staple food.
Tanveer said the price of imported wheat would also be around Rs4,900 per maund, making domestic procurement a more suitable option. The government would prioritise Pakistani farmers rather than resort to imports unnecessarily, he added.
The minister disclosed that more than 1.3 million tonnes of wheat had already been supplied to the provinces from Pakistan Agricultural Storage and Services Corporation (PASSCO) stocks. Arrangements could also be made to import up to 550,000 tonnes, depending on provincial requirements and demand.
He attributed the recent increase in wheat prices to artificial market manipulation by certain elements, maintaining that adequate stocks were available in the country. He expressed confidence that prices would return to normal within the next few days and warned that the government would take measures to curb speculative practices, artificial shortages and unjustified price increases.
The minister said the national wheat policy had been formulated after extensive consultations with provincial governments, adding that cooperation with provincial administrations and farmers’ organisations would continue during its implementation.
He said the federal government, under Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, was pursuing broader agricultural reforms to improve productivity, reduce production costs and strengthen food security.
According to the minister, the government had also formulated policies relating to seeds, olives and biotechnology to modernise agriculture and encourage innovation. The availability of quality seeds and the adoption of modern agricultural technologies were essential to raising crop yields and improving farmers’ economic prospects, he added.
He described agriculture as the backbone of Pakistan’s economy, saying sustainable growth in the sector was vital for economic stability, rural prosperity and long-term food security.
The minister said Pakistan was more severely affected than other countries by the Middle East crisis, as 80 percent of its energy import bill was exposed to external shocks. He acknowledged that DAP prices had increased, while urea prices remained stable. Regarding sugar, the minister claimed that its prices were stable around Rs140 per kg in retail.
Khalid Mahmood Khokhar welcomed the decision to fix the wheat price at Rs4,500 per maund, appreciating the consultation with provincial governments. He said farmers needed a predictable and reasonable price for their produce to protect their economic interests.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026