Political incompetence fuels Pakistan’s looming food emergency

Pakistan’s wheat management system is in disarray, highlighting a combination of policy paralysis and administrative failure. The Sindh cabinet has recently approved the release of 1.265 million tonnes of wheat to flour mills at Rs3,800 per maund to control rising flour prices. Concurrently, the Punjab government has implemented strict restrictions on the interprovincial movement of wheat and flour through a permit-based system. However, wheat prices continue to rise, indicating a growing imbalance between supply and demand, reports 24brussels.

Debate over whether Pakistan’s current wheat reserves can sustain the nation until Sindh’s next harvest in March or if imports will be necessary has intensified within policy circles. The Pakistan Flour Mills Association has indicated that poultry and livestock feed mills have consumed over 1.6 million tonnes of wheat within four months post-harvest, primarily using it as a substitute for maize. Punjab’s ban on wheat in animal feed, implemented in September 2025, has been described as a delayed and ineffective measure. This excessive consumption, coupled with stock losses from recent floods, has made it necessary to import around 1.5 million tonnes of wheat.

The federal minister for national food security contends that domestic reserves are sufficient. However, the absence of a transparent and reliable system to assess actual stock levels has created widespread uncertainty. Much of the marketable wheat is now held by private entities, including mills, traders, and politically connected elites, who purchased significant quantities during harvest at Rs2,000-2,200 per maund, anticipating future profits, as reported by Dawn.

The government’s reluctance to acknowledge a shortage appears politically motivated, as doing so would contradict previous assurances of stability. However, delaying imports until next year could lead to severe consequences, including inflation, market panic, and public discontent. Experts caution that such indecision echoes Pakistan’s previous sugar crisis, where poorly timed imports harmed farmers and fueled speculation. Once again, the state seems to prioritize vested interests over the needs of consumers and growers, risking a deeper food security emergency in the coming months.