Farmers Warn Wheat Crisis Could Push Prices to Rs. 6,000 Per Maund

Farmers have warned that Pakistan’s wheat crisis is worsening due to policy failures and poor planning, cautioning that wheat prices could rise to Rs. 6,000 per maund and make flour and bread increasingly unaffordable for consumers.

In a joint statement, Markazi Kisan League (MKL) Chairman Chaudhry Zulfiqar Ali Olakh and President Muhammad Ashfaq Warraich said the government ignored repeated warnings about a looming wheat shortage, allowing the crisis to deepen.

The farmer leaders blamed the abolition of the wheat support price mechanism under International Monetary Fund (IMF) linked reforms and the failure of provincial governments to procure sufficient wheat during the current harvest season. They noted that Punjab procured only 480,000 tonnes against a target of 3 million tonnes, while Sindh purchased around 200,000 tonnes.

According to the MKL, Pakistan imported nearly 3.5 million tonnes of wheat worth more than $1 billion last year but still faces an estimated wheat shortfall of 3.5 million tonnes. They warned that additional imports may become unavoidable, putting further pressure on the country’s foreign exchange reserves.

The leaders said wheat prices have already risen sharply over the past month and warned they could climb to Rs. 6,000 per maund if corrective measures are not taken immediately.

Their warning comes as the federal and provincial governments continue discussions on tackling the emerging shortage. Punjab has sought one million tonnes of wheat from federal reserves, while Sindh has requested at least 220,000 tonnes.

Officials are also reviewing the possibility of importing more wheat, with a final decision expected after provinces submit their updated demand estimates.