ISLAMABAD: Faced with a domestic grain shortage that has left national stocks unable to meet local demand, the federal government is exploring the import of one million tonnes of wheat.

The decision was taken at a high-level meeting of the Wheat Board to review the country’s wheat availability, distribution strategy, and provincial requirements.

National Food Security Minister Rana Tanveer Hussain chaired the meeting.

A countrywide assessment revealed that the collective grain demand from the provinces has completely overwhelmed the current emergency reserves managed by the Pakistan Agricultural Storage and Services Corporation.

The upcoming import operation aims to prevent potential market disruptions and ensure uniform supply distribution across all regions.

“Therefore, in consultation with the provinces and based on their requirements, a process for the import of approximately one million tonnes of wheat was being explored.

The collective demand from the provinces exceeded the available stocks with Passco,” the unanimous decision taken in the meeting stated.

Published in Dawn, July 29th, 2026