KP urges Punjab to lift ban on wheat transportation

PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government on Monday urged the Punjab government to immediately lift restrictions on inter-provincial wheat transportation, saying the move would ensure smooth supply, strengthen food security and stabilize the national wheat market.

Addressing a press conference in Peshawar, KP Information Minister Shafi Jan said the wheat situation in the province remained stable and there was no shortage for consumers.

He said KP requires around 5.4 million metric tonnes of wheat annually, while the province produces approximately 1.6 million metric tonnes.

The minister said government warehouses currently hold 153,000 metric tonnes of wheat, while the private sector possesses more than 116,000 metric tonnes, ensuring satisfactory availability of the commodity across the province.

Shafi Jan said the provincial government had also approved the procurement of wheat from local farmers to encourage domestic production and provide growers with a fair return. Under the policy, wheat will be purchased at Rs3,500 per 40 kilograms, he added.

He called on the Punjab government to remove restrictions on wheat movement between provinces, saying the free flow of wheat according to demand was essential for maintaining adequate supplies.

The minister said stronger inter-provincial cooperation would not only enhance food security but also help maintain stability in the country's wheat market. He expressed hope that the Punjab government would respond positively to the request.

Meanwhile, KP Special Assistant to the Chief Minister on Food, Israr Safi, said the province produces less wheat than it consumes and imports around 3.8 million metric tonnes from Punjab every year.

He said Punjab has a surplus of around 6 million metric tonnes of wheat, but restrictions on supply were affecting KP. He added that the price of wheat in Punjab had increased from Rs7,000 per metric tonne last year to Rs10,000 per metric tonne this year.

Shafi said wheat was not being supplied to KP, resulting in higher prices in the province. He added that the provincial government had so far purchased 175,000 metric tonnes of wheat from the Pakistan Agricultural Storage and Services Corporation (PASSCO) to help meet local demand.