Islamabad, April 14, 2025: In a major policy shift, the federal government has announced that it will not procure wheat this year, a decision linked directly to conditions agreed upon with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
Federal Minister for National Food Security Rana Tanveer Hussain shared the update through a written statement presented in the National Assembly on Monday. He confirmed that the move stems from Pakistan’s ongoing compliance with IMF structural reforms.
“The wheat production for 2025 is sufficient to meet the country’s needs for the 2025–26 season,” the minister assured the House. He added that decisions regarding wheat import or export would be made at a later stage, depending on market conditions and domestic demand.
To steer the country through this transition, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has established a cabinet committee to formulate a new national wheat policy, according to the minister. Additionally, a separate cabinet body on essential commodities has been formed, with the Prime Minister himself at its helm.
“So far, the committee has held two meetings, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar,” Rana Tanveer noted.
The decision marks a significant departure from decades of federal procurement practices. The responsibility for wheat procurement will now fall largely on provincial governments and private sector players, fundamentally altering the country’s grain supply and pricing mechanisms.
