KP faces looming wheat crisis as only 70 days of reserve left

PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) is facing a looming wheat crisis as the province is left with a stock reserve only for 70 days.

Meanwhile, the provincial government has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Pakistan Agricultural Storage and Services Corporation Limited (PASSCO) to purchase 1.4 million metric tons of wheat to avert any possible wheat and flour crisis in the province.

According to sources, KP’s 29 government warehouses currently hold a stock of 2,12,822 metric tons of wheat, sufficient to meet the province’s wheat requirements for the next 70 days.

The annual demand for wheat in KP stands at 5 million metric tons, while the province produces 1.5 million metric tons of wheat. Consequently, the provincial government annually procures wheat from Punjab and PASSCO to fulfill its requirements.

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Sources said that the KP food department is actively engaged in the process of purchasing 1.4 million metric tons of wheat from PASSCO at a cost of Rs32 billion to meet the province’s needs. This collaboration with PASSCO aims to provide local and imported wheat to KP, the sources said.

KP authorities said that there was no imminent wheat and flour crisis in the province. They emphasized that the government’s warehouses are well-stocked, and the procurement of wheat from PASSCO is ongoing.

Under the new agreement, the province has already received 835,541 metric tons of wheat.

KP food department officials also pointed out that the establishment of 12 joint check-posts in the province has curtailed wheat and flour smuggling to Afghanistan. Consequently, ample quantities of wheat and flour are available in local markets.

In addition, KP has introduced a computerized system for wheat transportation, enabling real-time monitoring of wheat movement across the province.

KP’s Caretaker Food Minister Asif Rafiq told HUM News English that there is no possibility of a wheat and flour crisis in the province.

“KP has an abundant wheat reserve, and international reductions in wheat prices have also contributed to a decrease in wheat prices within Pakistan. This has led flour mills to make purchases from open markets,” he said.