The federal government is evaluating a proposal to exempt imported wheat from customs duties and other taxes in an effort to ease supply pressures and strengthen national food security.
According to official sources, the Ministry of National Food Security has requested a comprehensive tax waiver on wheat imports, including an exemption from the provincial infrastructure development cess, to reduce the overall import cost.
As part of its strategy, the government has approved the import of one million metric tons of wheat. In addition, another one million metric tons currently stored in Pakistan Agricultural Storage and Services Corporation (PASSCO) warehouses will be released and distributed among the provinces to replenish their strategic reserves.
The wheat held in PASSCO storage facilities is estimated to be worth around Rs141 billion. Meanwhile, the planned import of one million metric tons is expected to cost approximately $340 million.
Officials said provincial governments have reported considerable shortages in their emergency wheat stocks, prompting the federal government to accelerate measures aimed at ensuring sufficient grain availability across the country.
To oversee the procurement process, the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) has established a steering committee headed by Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, which will supervise the wheat import initiative and related policy decisions.
