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National Assembly during a session in Islamabad. — APP/File
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ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of National Food Security and Research (MNFSR) submitted a report in the National Assembly (NA) that according to the IMF’s promises, the federal government will not buy wheat this year.
However, in consultation with the provinces and stakeholders, it will ensure proper availability of wheat without compromising the farmers’ interest. This information was provided in response to a question from Muhammad Ahmed Chata, who asked if it was a fact that the government had not yet made arrangements for the purchase of food items, which could cause concern.
The MNFSR told the National Assembly that according to the current stock and estimates, the production of 2025 is enough to meet the national needs of the year of 2025-26, it is not expected this year. There is no need to import existing wheat. However, after market irregularities, wheat can be imported or exported in the future.
The federal government has taken the following steps to formulate a uniform wheat policy: National Workshop was organized on January 24, 2025 with a stakeholder of all provincial/regional governments and the private sector.
MNFSR held numerous meetings with stakeholders on consultation on the new wheat policy. The Secretary, MNFSR wrote two letters to the chief secretaries of all the provinces to seek the new wheat policy of the date of December 20, 2024 and March 4, 2025.
The Prime Minister has constituted a cabinet committee on wheat policy and four meetings of this committee have been convened.
Under the Prime Minister’s presidency, the Cabinet Committee on Essential/Cash crops has also formed to review the performance of large crops, including wheat, from time to time. Two meetings of this committee have so far been convened under the chairmanship of the Deputy Prime Minister.
However, in response to Sharmila Froki’s question, MNFSR told the National Assembly that there is currently no food security crisis in the country, as essential food items are available enough. With effective steps of the government.
Earlier, food inflation was a record height in May 2023 (48 % in urban areas and 52 % in rural areas), which has now decreased to -1.7 % and -5.4 % respectively, which reflects both price stability and better supply.
The MNFSR has made significant progress in resolving the food security issue in Pakistan. This is clear from recent statistics that show improved several important indicators of food protection.
These feats reflect the ministry’s ongoing efforts to ensure food availability, access to food and cheap across the country. However, despite these positive developments, many structural and systemic challenges are hindering the full sense of food protection and poverty alleviation goals. Some of these challenges are described below:
Food safety and poverty alleviation is naturally proportional, which requires strong harmony between various ministries such as MNFSR, climate change, health, water and power, and planning, development and special measures.
The absence of a comprehensive, coordinated and long-term strategy to solve the causes of the roots-such as inadequate agricultural methods, climate risks and rapid population increase-have limited the effects of policy interference.
In response to another question, MNFSR submitted a report on sugar production in the country and said that by 07-04-2025, according to provincial cans commissioners, the total sugar production estimate is 5.769 million tonnes.
These stocks are enough to meet local consumption for the next 7 months, at 8 November 2025, at a rate of 0.550MT per month.
In response to another question of Mir Jamal Khan Raisani in connection with the current status of sugar reserves in the country, and how the Ministry plans to control sugar prices, the Ministry of Industries and Production told the National Assembly that the provincial cans commissioners manufactured in the crop 2024-25, according to 5.769mm Sugar.
Last year, Kerry over stock was 0.951mmt, which allowed 0.411MT in last year’s exports, which ended by January 15, 2025. The lifting of sugar, including exports, was 2.796MT and the rest of the mills was 3.952mmt.
These stocks are enough until the second week of November 2025. In addition, during May, July 2025, a beetle of 0.080mmt will be included in stock.
The Pakistan Sugar Mills Association (PSMA) plans to start the next crushing season on November 1, 2025, so that eleven (11) months and additional sugar are available for the next crushing season this year.
The Prime Minister has taken serious notice of the increase in sugar prices and has constituted a committee under the chairmanship of the Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) to resolve the issue.
The committee held its meetings on March 17, 19 and 28, 2025, during which it was decided that the former sugar mills and retail prices would be less than 159/kg and 1464/kg respectively for a month by April 19, 2025. As a result, the sugar price has been purchased. The Ministry is monitoring/analyzing the price of sugar.
