LAHORE: Pakistan’s wheat management has come under fresh scrutiny after the reported disappearance of nearly 4.5 million tons of wheat in Punjab.
This coincides with the government’s move to consider importing one million tons of wheat, raising serious questions about procurement policies, market oversight, and the country’s food security.
The startling disclosure surfaced during a high-level meeting on wheat procurement, where federal and provincial authorities reportedly struggled to account for a substantial quantity of wheat despite a healthy harvest this year.
The development has intensified concerns that policy failures, weak procurement, and alleged hoarding have transformed what should have been a surplus season into a looming supply crisis.
According to media reports, the issue emerged when a senior Punjab official asked representatives from other provinces whether the missing wheat had reached their respective regions.
Officials reportedly expressed ignorance, suggesting that the grain may have been hoarded rather than transported through official channels.
The revelation comes at a time when the federal government has decided in principle to import one million tons of wheat after provinces sought additional supplies from the centre to stabilize flour prices and replenish dwindling stocks.
The decision marks a dramatic reversal for a country that had expected to remain self-sufficient following this year’s harvest.
Procurement policy under fire
According to sources, the government fixed the procurement price at Rs3,500 per maund, but private buyers considered the rate commercially unattractive. Punjab subsequently relied on the private sector to procure wheat, while traders sought bank financing to support purchases.
However, insiders claim the strategy backfired.
At the beginning of the harvesting season, wheat prices in Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa reportedly surged to around Rs4,500 per maund, while alleged hoarders purchased wheat directly from farmers for nearly Rs2,800 per maund, enabling them to accumulate large quantities at relatively low prices.
With official procurement falling well below expectations, flour prices have steadily increased across several cities, placing additional pressure on consumers already grappling with inflation.
Senior journalist Naeem Ashraf Butt said Punjab procured only a fraction of its intended wheat target, forcing Punjab and Sindh to seek millions of tons of wheat from the federal government’s strategic reserves managed by PASSCO—a corporation that the government itself has announced plans to wind down.
From export hopes to import dependence
The unfolding situation has prompted criticism from market observers, who note that only months after harvesting a strong wheat crop, policymakers are discussing imports instead of exports.
Analysts estimate that importing one million tons of wheat could cost between $350 million and $400 million, while additional purchases later in the season could push the import bill close to $1 billion, placing further strain on Pakistan’s already fragile external account.
The policy shift has also exposed conflicting official narratives.
Earlier this month, the Wheat Board maintained that Pakistan had adequate wheat stocks and directed provinces to intensify action against hoarding and market manipulation. Days later, however, federal and provincial authorities began reviewing import options as wheat and flour prices continued climbing and provinces sought access to PASSCO’s strategic reserves.
Missing wheat raises accountability questions
The reported disappearance of 4.5 million tons of wheat has renewed concerns over transparency in Pakistan’s grain management system.
Industry observers argue that the central question is no longer whether Pakistan produced sufficient wheat, but where the wheat went. If the reported stocks are indeed in private warehouses, authorities may have underestimated the extent of hoarding and speculative trading. If the grain cannot be traced through official records, critics say it points to deeper administrative failures in procurement, documentation, and market monitoring.
Media reports also suggest that investigations into previous wheat-related controversies have yet to make significant progress, although officials have indicated that dormant inquiries could be reopened.
Provinces seek federal intervention
Faced with tightening supplies and rising prices, several provinces have requested the federal government to release millions of tons of wheat from PASSCO’s strategic reserves to prevent disruptions in flour availability.
Economic experts warn that unless authorities quickly identify the missing stocks, curb hoarding, and improve market oversight, Pakistan could face further increases in flour prices and renewed supply pressures later this year.
The controversy has also reignited debate over whether the country’s wheat crisis stems from an actual production shortfall or from a combination of flawed procurement policies, inadequate stock management, and delayed government intervention—factors that have left consumers paying higher prices despite one of the year’s better harvests.
