KARACHI, Sept 22: Pakistani agriculture minister said on Monday that the country planned to resume its stalled wheat export programme to maintain a presence in the global market.

“We plan to offer at least 100,000 tons of wheat for export this season...we will soon announce dates for tenders,” Agriculture Minister Sardar Yar Muhammad Rind told Reuters by telephone from Islamabad.

He said the Wheat Disposal Committee will meet on September 25 to review the availability of wheat in the country for domestic and export purposes.

“But this is definite — even if it is with a smaller amount than 100,000 tons, we will do so in order to remain in the world market,” he added.

Pakistan halted its wheat export programme in May after dry summer winds slashed crop yields and triggered fears of a shortfall in the domestic market.

Pakistan’s wheat output remained at around 19.25 million tons during the last financial year, down from the targeted output of 19.70 million tons.

Mr Rind said available stocks were sufficient to meet Pakistan’s domestic demand of 20 million tons, as the country also had carry-over stocks of more than one million tons from last year’s crop.

Lower-than-expected output this year forced the government to block the state-run Trading Corporation of Pakistan from exporting wheat.

Private exporters have been allowed to export wheat, but the government withdrew most of its subsidies and rebates making foreign shipments unattractive because of high prices on the local market.

Pakistan started wheat exports in 2001 and found a big market in the Middle East and Africa. It also exported wheat to Europe and Southeast Asia. It exported 1.7 million tons of wheat in the last fiscal 2002-03 (July-June).

Mr Rind rejected market speculation that tighter supplies this year meant Pakistan might have to import about 500,000 tons of wheat to meet domestic needs. “We have sufficient stocks to meet current year needs.”

Mr Rind said the US government had offered Pakistan concessionary loans for the import of its grains, which Islamabad turned down. The US offered to sell 350,000 tons of wheat to Pakistan.

“They made this offer last month...but we have told them that we have no plan to import any quantity,” he said.

But industry officials said a considerable quantity of wheat would be needed for the next sowing season, while smuggling to Afghanistan and Iran would also reduce supplies and could lead to a shortfall of 500,000 tons.—Reuters