Pakistan Fixes Wheat Price At Rs4,500 Per Maund Under National Wheat Policy
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✧ GENERATE BRIEFING
Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research Rana Tanveer Hussain formally announced a new indicative wheat support price of Rs4,500 per maund (40 kg) on Monday, October 26, 2026, following high-level consultations with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, provincial governments, and agricultural leadership. Under the newly unveiled National Wheat Policy—described as the first major strategic wheat policy overhaul in nearly four decades—the government plans to maintain national strategic wheat reserves of up to six million metric tonnes to secure domestic food supplies and stabilize market pricing.Key policy parameters, reserve mechanics, and agricultural reforms include:Procurement Price Revision: The indicative price of Rs4,500 per maund represents a Rs1,000 increase (+28.6%) over last year's baseline rate of Rs3,500 per maund, aimed at offsetting rising farmer input expenses across fertilizer, electricity, seed, and fuel.PASSCO Reserves & Provincial Stocks: Over 1.3 million tonnes of wheat have been released from PASSCO (Pakistan Agricultural Storage and Services Corporation) stocks to provincial food departments.
Pakistan’s federal government has announced an indicative wheat support price of Rs4,500 per maund (40 kg) following extensive consultations with provincial governments, alongside plans to maintain strategic wheat reserves of up to six million metric tonnes under a new National Wheat Policy.
Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research Rana Tanveer Hussain announced the measures at a press conference in Islamabad on Monday, October 26, 2026, accompanied by Pakistan Kissan Ittehad President Khalid Mahmood Khokhar.
The minister stated that the policy was formulated to strengthen national food security, safeguard farmers’ livelihoods against rising input inflation, and bring structural stability to the domestic wheat market. He described the framework as a major policy development after nearly four decades.
Strategic Reserves and Procurement Plan
Under the strategy, the government plans to maintain strategic wheat reserves of up to six million metric tonnes during the current year to ensure uninterrupted flour supplies and insulate domestic consumers against global supply shocks.
| Policy Benchmark / Metric | Operational Parameter / Value | Strategic Context |
| Official Wheat Support Price | Rs4,500 per Maund (40 kg) | Up Rs1,000 (+28.6%) from Rs3,500 baseline |
| National Strategic Reserves Target | Up to 6.0 Million Metric Tonnes | National food security & supply stabilization |
| PASSCO Stock Releases | 1.3+ Million Metric Tonnes | Delivered to provincial food departments |
| Potential Import Cushion | Up to 550,000 Metric Tonnes | Contingency buffer based on demand |
| Landed Import Price Parity | ~Rs4,500 per Maund | Favors domestic procurement over imports |
Minister Hussain confirmed that more than 1.3 million tonnes of wheat have already been dispatched from PASSCO stocks to provincial authorities. He added that arrangements can be made to import up to 550,000 tonnes of wheat if required by provincial governments, though domestic procurement remains the preferred option.
Preference for Domestic Agriculture and Market Monitoring
Hussain emphasized that imported wheat carries an equivalent landed cost of approximately Rs4,500 per maund, making local procurement more economically beneficial for supporting Pakistani growers.
The minister expressed concern over recent open-market price spikes—where private trade saw rates rise toward Rs5,300 per 40 kg in select regional markets—characterizing the increases as artificial and driven by speculative trade. He stated that provincial administrations have been instructed to enforce strict administrative oversight to curb hoarding, prevent artificial shortages, and stabilize retail flour prices.
Agricultural Modernization Framework
As part of broader agricultural reforms, the minister outlined supporting policies covering seed standardization, crop zoning, biotechnology adoption, and olive production. These measures aim to lower farm production expenses, improve per-acre yields, and modernize national crop management.
Pakistan Kissan Ittehad President Khalid Mahmood Khokhar welcomed the price announcement and the government’s consultation process, noting that a predictable output price provides critical financial certainty to farmers facing higher electricity, fertilizer, and seed costs.
