LAHORE, June 2: Pakistan is likely to import around 1.5 million ton of wheat to meet shortfall in the official procurement target this year. According to sources in the ministry of food, agriculture and livestock (Minfal), high hopes about a bumper crop and massive domestic purchases could not be materialised.

Though Sindh and the Pakistan Agriculture Storage and Supply Corporation have achieved their targets, the Punjab, the most crucial player, has fallen well short of its target. The Punjab government had verbally informed the federal government about the requirement of around one million ton of the commodity and a formal summary was on its way. Sindh had also asked for 400,000 ton to meet its needs, the sources said.

Meanwhile, the procurement drive in Punjab has lost momentum and daily arrival of wheat has dipped to 16,000 tons. Even that might dry up during the next few days. The food department is able to procure only 2.4 million ton until Thursday against the total target of 3.5 million ton.

According to the department officials, the drive may terminate at around 2.5 million ton— one million ton short of target. According to Raja Shahid, former secretary food, who was transferred a few days back, the government has no option but to go for liberal release to keep flour prices under some sort of check. For keeping releases liberal, it needs at least 3.2 million ton of wheat.

The federal government had assured the provinces that it would convene a meeting in the first weak of July to assess situation and look for ways to meet the shortfall, if any. Khaliq Arshad of the Pakistan Flour Mills Association also agrees that government would have no option but to import 1.5 million ton of wheat in order to keep domestic market stable.