Lahore
Markazi Kisan League Secretary General Dr Rizwan Mahmood has welcomed the prime minister’s proposal to set the wheat support price at Rs4,500 per maund, urging the government to implement the decision promptly and ensure official wheat procurement across all provinces.
He said fixing a reasonable price for wheat was a positive step in the interests of farmers, but its benefits would materialize only if the government actively purchased the crop. An effective procurement policy was essential to ensure fair returns for farmers and strengthen the agricultural economy, he added.
Dr Mahmood warned that Pakistan could face serious food shortages in the coming months, making it necessary to maintain adequate government wheat reserves to prevent future shortages and ensure the availability of flour at affordable prices.
He said transferring a substantial quantity of wheat into the hands of private investors could increase the risk of profiteering and further price hikes. The fact that flour prices had exceeded Rs6,500 per maund this year highlighted the need for effective government oversight to maintain a balance between wheat supply and prices, he added.
The Kisan League secretary general called on the federal government to formulate a comprehensive wheat procurement plan in coordination with the provincial governments and ensure its effective implementation.
He said a coordinated procurement policy would help farmers receive fair compensation for their produce, safeguard national food reserves and protect consumers from unnecessary increases in flour prices.
