The Sindh Cabinet has approved a revised wheat release policy for 2025–26 aimed at stabilizing market conditions and controlling flour prices across the province. Under the new decision, the official wheat release price has been reduced to PKR 8,000 per 100-kg bag, down from the previous level of PKR 9,500 per bag.
Officials stated that the revised policy is designed to stabilize wheat prices, improve grain rotation, ensure timely stock releases, and free up storage capacity ahead of the upcoming procurement season. The government also expects the adjustment to support more affordable flour prices for consumers in Sindh.
📉 Price Relief in Sindh vs Inflation Surge in Quetta
While wheat and flour prices have eased in Sindh following the policy revision, the situation in Quetta has moved in the opposite direction, where flour prices have surged to record levels.
- 20-kg flour bag increased from PKR 2,350 → PKR 2,550 in a single day
- Total increase over four months: PKR 700 per bag
👉 This sharp rise highlights widening regional price disparities in staple food markets.
⚠️ Supply Chain Disruptions Driving Price Pressure
Market participants attribute the rising flour prices in Quetta to:
- Restrictions on inter-provincial wheat and flour movement
- Disrupted supply chains
- Reduced availability in local markets
👉 These factors have collectively tightened supply and intensified inflationary pressure on consumers.
🧭 National Focus Shifts Toward New Wheat Crop
At the national level, policymakers are increasingly focused on the upcoming wheat production cycle following a reported decline of more than 3 million tons in national output.
Attention is particularly centered on Punjab, which contributes approximately 76% of Pakistan’s total wheat production, making it the backbone of national food security.
🌾 Strong Wheat Sowing Performance in Punjab
For the current season, the government set a wheat cultivation target of 16.5 million acres in Punjab.
📊 Faisalabad Division Performance:
- Target: 1,834,000 acres
- Achieved: 1,868,000 acres
- Last year: 1,809,000 acres
👉 This reflects a 2.93% increase in wheat cultivation year-on-year
📈 Agricultural Outlook and Food Security
The Agriculture Department has termed the performance in key divisions as a record achievement in wheat sowing, suggesting improved farmer participation this season.
Authorities believe that:
- Higher cultivated area in major regions
- Strong sowing performance in Punjab
- Recovery efforts in other provinces
👉 May help partially offset lower national production and support food security stability in coming months
⚖️ Policy Balance Between Prices and Supply
The current situation reflects a dual challenge:
- Provinces like Sindh are attempting to stabilize prices through release policy adjustments
- Meanwhile, other regions face inflation due to supply chain disruptions
👉 This indicates a fragmented but actively managed national wheat market environment
🔚 Conclusion
Sindh’s decision to reduce wheat release prices aims to stabilize local markets and improve consumer affordability, while Quetta continues to experience sharp flour price inflation due to supply chain constraints. At the national level, strong wheat sowing performance in Punjab offers some relief amid a decline in overall production. The coming months will be critical in determining whether increased cultivation can offset production losses and stabilize wheat availability across the country.
The Agri-Crop editorial team comprises commodity market analysts, rice trade specialists, and agriculture industry professionals based in Pakistan. We track daily price movements, export data, and policy developments across Pakistan’s key agricultural sectors.
