FPCCI Official Calls For Fundamental Review Of Wheat Policy To Protect Farmers
Published September 06, 2026 | 01:50 PM
LAHORE, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 6th Sep, 2026)
Convener of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) Regional Committee on Food, Shahid Imran, called for a fundamental review of the country’s wheat policy on Sunday to safeguard farmers' interests and address escalating production costs.
According to a spokesperson, Shahid Imran noted that farmers are facing severe financial pressure and are demanding harvest-time prices equivalent to import parity to offset rising expenses for diesel, electricity, fertilizers, and pesticides. Balancing this demand with consumer interests requires a comprehensive policy overhaul, he said.
Proposed Solutions:
- Establish and maintain strategic wheat reserves of at least four million tonnes, procured and released at prevailing market prices.
- Use these reserves as a market-stabilization tool and protect low-income households through targeted subsidies if international prices surge.
- Recognize private stockists in a deregulated market to absorb surplus wheat during harvests, while expanding the network to prevent market concentration.
He pointed out that Punjab, producing roughly 77 percent of Pakistan's wheat, has seen fluctuating procurement approaches over recent years—from halting direct procurement in 2024 to introducing electronic receipts in 2025 and a private-sector model in 2026—which have failed to yield desired results, leaving farmers with financial losses.