Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research, Rana Tanveer Hussain, chaired a high-level meeting of the Wheat Board to review the country's wheat availability, distribution strategy, and provincial requirements.
The meeting was attended by Secretary, Ministry of National Food Security and Research, Amer Ali Ahmed, PM Coordinator on agriculture, agriculture and food Secretaries of all provinces, representatives from Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu & Kashmir, senior officials of the Ministry, representatives of the Pakistan Flour Mills Association, and other relevant stakeholders.
The meeting reviewed the requirements of provinces from passco stocks. It transpired that the collective demand for provinces exceeded the available stocks with passco.
Thereby in consultation with and on need of provinces a process for import of approximately 1 m tonne of wheat was being explored. It is pertinent to mention that import quantity has been determined on the basis of the requirements submitted by the provinces and is aimed at maintaining uninterrupted wheat supplies and safeguarding national food security.
The Minister emphasized that all provinces will be fully taken into confidence during the import process, particularly regarding the quality specifications of the imported wheat.
He further said that the imported wheat will be distributed among the provinces strictly in accordance with their respective requirements to ensure transparency, fairness, and equitable allocation.
Rana Tanveer Hussain reaffirmed the Government's commitment to working closely with all federating units to maintain a stable wheat supply, protect consumers' interests, and ensure timely availability of wheat throughout the country. He directed the relevant authorities to complete all necessary arrangements efficiently and in close coordination with the provinces.
