KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah on Monday reviewed the wheat stock position in the province and status of seized wheat stocks. He directed the food department to start releasing wheat to flour mills from October 1, a move aimed at ensuring adequate supplies and bringing down flour price across Sindh.

The chief minister was presiding over a meeting of the ministers and officials concerned at CM House.

He told the participants that his government’s foremost priority was to provide relief to consumers by ensuring availability of flour to them at an affordable price.

He stressed that strategic wheat reserves, timely procurement, effective market interventions and strict action against hoarding would help stabilise prices of flour varieties and protect consumers from artificial shortages.

Orders release of wheat to millers from Oct 1, acceleration of operation against hoarders, speeding up lifting and transportation of seized stocks

He directed the food department and district administrations to accelerate operations against hoarders, expedite the lifting and transportation of seized wheat stocks, and complete all procurement and logistical arrangements well before the release process begins.

The meeting was attended by Ministers Mukesh Kumar Chawla, Jam Khan Shoro and Ziaul Hassan Lanjar. Food Minister Makhdoom Mahboobuz Zaman, Agri­culture Minister Sardar Mohammad Bux Mahar, CM’s Adviser Gianchand Esrani and Special Assistant Jabbar Khan participated in the meeting through video link.

The Chief Secretary Asif Hyder Shah, Secretary to CM Asif Jameel, Secretary Food Ghulam Abbas Naich and other senior officials were also present.

The food department presented a detailed overview of wheat stocks available with the government, quantum of the seized stocks, procurement plans and import arrangements.

The chief minister was informed that a total of 226,918 tonnes of wheat had been seized [during the ongoing drive against hoarders] and reconciled across the province. Of this, 57,122 tonnes of wheat is available at flour mills and ready for lifting, while 169,796 tonnes had been seized from traders and hoarders holding unauthorised stocks.

The meeting was informed that 25,365 tonnes of wheat remained under litigation, leaving 144,431 tonnes available for lifting. So far, 59,223 tonnes had been transported to procurement and storage facilities, while 85,208 tonnes remained to be lifted.

The meeting was also informed that the food department had already disbursed Rs2.855 billion against the lifted wheat stock.

Reviewing the district-wise performance, the chief minister directed deputy commissioners and food authorities to speed up the transportation of the remaining stocks, particularly in the districts where lifting ratio remained low.

He emphasised that all legally available wheat should be taken under government custody without delay so that it could be utilised effectively for market intervention and price stabilisation.

The food department informed the meeting that Sindh would procure 190,000-223,455 tonnes of wheat from Passco, subject to the availability of fair average quality wheat.

Food Minister Makhdoom Mahboobuz Zaman said that the transportation tender had already been floated and would be opened on Sept 22. The department has also initiated procurement of bardana and other logistical requirements.

The meeting was also apprised of federal government’s wheat import initiative.

It noted that the Trading Corporation of Pakistan had floated a tender for the import of 300,000 tonnes of wheat which would be opened this week.

The chief minister asked the food department to closely monitor the import process and submit a detailed assessment of landed costs and supply implications to the Cabinet’s sub-committee immediately after opening of bids.

The meeting reviewed the grinding capacity of flour mills in Karachi. It was informed that 96 flour mills were currently functional while five had remained inoperative.

Food officials reported that Karachi’s 101 registered flour mills had a combined grinding capacity of 424,473 tonnes.

The meeting was informed that 130,000 tonnes of Passco wheat and 300,000 tonnes of imported wheat were planned for Karachi, while additional Passco allocations were earmarked for Hyderabad, Benazirabad and Mirpurkhas divisions.

The chief minister said that government would continue to intervene in the market whenever necessary to protect consumers from unjustified price hike.

He said the provincial government would continue to take proactive measures to stabilise flour prices, safeguard food security and ensure an uninterrupted wheat supplies to people.

Published in Dawn, September 15th, 2026