PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Mohammad Sohail Afridi on Wednesday said that Article 151 of the Constitution guaranteed free trade among provinces and no provincial government was empowered to obstruct transportation of food or essential commodities.
During a meeting with members of Senate Standing Committee on Inter-Provincial Coordination here, he underlined the need for mutual understanding and continued cooperation among provinces to find a lasting solution to wheat supply issue.
A statement issued from the chief minister’s secretariat said that the delegation congratulated Mr Afridi on assuming office and discussed with him different issues related to governance, economic cooperation and coordination among provinces.
The delegates also discussed restrictions imposed by the Punjab government on free inter-provincial movement of wheat.
Senate committee members to take up the matter with Punjab govt
“Political differences must not come at the cost of people’s livelihoods. Any hurdle to wheat and flour supply not only strains relations among provinces but adversely affects economic wellbeing of people,” said the chief minister.
He lauded the role of Senate committee members and described them as true representatives and ambassadors of the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He also appreciated their efforts to promote inter-provincial harmony and strengthen the federation through dialogue and coordination.
The delegation included senators Dilawar Khan, Mohsin Aziz, Naseema Ehsan, Nasir Mahmood, Hidayatullah Khan, Niaz Ahmad and Musaddiq Masood among others. The adviser to chief minister on finance, Muzammil Aslam, Food Secretary Shah Mahmood and senior government officials also attended the meeting.
Meanwhile, another statement said that Standing Committee on Inter-Provincial Coordination (IPC) held a meeting with Senator Dilawar Khan in the chair to deliberate on the issue of inadequate coordination between the provinces of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab over supply of wheat.
The meeting was attended by Senator Hidayatullah Khan, Senator Niaz Ahmed, Senator Abdul Qadir, Senator Naseema Ehsan and Senator Nasir Mehmood Butt. Senior officials and representatives of Ministry of IPC and KP departments of IPC and food also participated in the meeting to provide technical input and assist the committee in its deliberations.
Food Secretary Shah Mahmood presented a detailed briefing on the province’s wheat stock position. He said that only 17 per cent of KP’s wheat requirement was met through local production while 83 per cent was procured from open market in Punjab.
He said that the government of Punjab imposed restrictions on inter-provincial movement of wheat to KP in August 2025 that led to market instability and posed a potential threat to food security in the province.
The food secretary said that repeated written communications from KP authorities to their counterparts in Punjab regarding restoration of wheat supply had so far remained unanswered. He said that the concern had been highlighted earlier by adviser to chief minister on finance during a meeting chaired by prime minister wherein ‘Interim Wheat Policy-2025’ was being discussed.
An analysis of wheat flour prices from August to October 2025 indicated a gradual increase in prices following the restrictions imposed by Punjab, underscoring urgent need for inter-provincial coordination and policy harmony.
After detailed discussion, the committee observed that mutual cooperation and equitable sharing of resources among provinces was vital for ensuring economic stability and sustainable national progress.
The committee unanimously decided to take up the matter with relevant authorities of the government of Punjab to resolve the issue amicably and ensure smooth inter-provincial movement of wheat.
The chairman of the committee appreciated the participation of officials of provincial departments and emphasised that the committee remained committed to promoting cohesive inter-provincial relations and addressing issues of national importance through dialogue and cooperation.
Published in Dawn, November 6th, 2025