LAHORE: The Punjab government claims to have supplied 850,000 metric tonnes of wheat to other provinces, of which a major chunk has been provided to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Punjab Director Food Amjad Hafeez says transportation of wheat is being carried out through a transparent permit system and the total estimated inter-provincial movement of wheat from Punjab stands between 1.4 and 1.5 million metric tonnes, while more than 700,000 metric tonnes have been supplied to Islamabad alone.

He clarified that there were no restrictions on the movement of wheat within Punjab, and inter-district transportation was fully allowed without any quota or administrative barriers. He explained that wherever a permit system was in place, it served only as a facilitative and monitoring mechanism to compile accurate data, discourage hoarding and profiteering, and support evidence-based policy making. “The system is not intended to disrupt trade or markets,” he added.

He claimed that allegations regarding restrictions on wheat transportation were baseless and contrary to ground realities. He said the government was utilising all available resources to ensure national food security and price stability.

PTI Kissan Wing rejects claim; says only smuggled staple reaches province

He, however, said measures were being taken to curb hoarding and profiteering, while protecting the interests of farmers and consumers remained a top priority of the government.Meanwhile, PTI Punjab Kissan Wing general secretary MPA Ejaz Shafi has rejected the food director’s claim that Punjab had given any wheat quota to the KP and only smuggled wheat reached the province.

He said the wheat price had risen to Rs5,000 per 40kg and if Punjab had supplied wheat to KP and Sindh, the prices could have risen to Rs10,000 per 40kg.

He lamented that hoarders, allegedly belonging to the incumbent government, had bought wheat from farmers at Rs1,800 to Rs2,000 per 40kg and hoarded the staple, now selling at more than the double prices in a matter of three to four months.

“The government pushed poor farmers against the wall during harvesting season and now the poor are compelled to purchase flour and roti at higher rates,” he said.

Published in Dawn, January 20th, 2026