Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has directed the food department and district administration to launch a strict crackdown on wheat hoarding and profiteering, warning that artificial shortages and market manipulation would not be tolerated as the province prepares for its wheat requirements for the remainder of the year.
High-Level Meeting on Wheat Availability
Presiding over a high-level meeting at the CM House to review wheat availability, stock positions, and market trends, the chief minister said the government would take all necessary measures to ensure uninterrupted availability of wheat and flour at reasonable prices across Sindh. The meeting was attended by Provincial Ministers Makhdoom Mahboobzaman (Food), Mukesh Kumar Chawla (Excise & Taxation), Mohammad Bux Khan Mahar (Agriculture), and Jam Khan Shoro (Irrigation), Adviser Gianchand Esrani (Rehabilitation), Chief Secretary Asif Hyder Shah, Secretary to CM Asif Jameel, Agriculture Secretary Zaman Narejo, Food Secretary Ghulam Abbas Naich, and other senior officials.
Wheat Production and Consumption Deficit
Minister Food Makhdoom Mahboob informed the CM that Sindh produced 4.8 million metric tonnes (MMT) of wheat during the 2025-26 crop season, which is a bumper crop, while the province’s annual consumption requirement stood at 6.53 MMT, indicating a structural shortfall. According to the presentation, Sindh had a total wheat stock availability of 4.94 MMT, including carryover stocks. However, after accounting for consumption during April-June and wheat moved to other provinces, the province is projected to face a deficit of around 2.1 MMT by March 2027 if market supplies do not continue to flow.
Current Wheat Stocks and Market Visibility
The Minister Food told the chief minister that the Food Department currently holds 0.2218 MMT of wheat stocks, including carryover reserves and fresh procurement. The meeting was told that Pakistan had an estimated net wheat balance of 24.39 MMT, of which nearly 12.2 MMT was believed to be in the possession of farmers and households. Officials noted that only a fraction of these stocks was currently visible in the market, with approximately 2.5 MMT in Punjab and 1 MMT in Sindh readily traceable, while nearly 9.5 MMT remained outside normal market channels.
Concerns Over Hidden Stocks and Speculation
Expressing concern, Murad Shah said that hidden stocks could create unnecessary market pressure and encourage speculative trading. “The government will not allow hoarders and profiteers to exploit consumers through artificial shortages. Wheat is a strategic commodity, and its availability must be ensured at all costs,” the chief minister said.
Wheat Price Trends Across Pakistan
The meeting reviewed wheat price trends across the country and was informed that wheat prices had risen sharply in recent months. Current wheat prices per 40 kilograms were reported at Rs 4,150 – Rs 4,350 in Punjab, Rs 4,680 in Sindh, Rs 4,680 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Rs 4,600 in Balochistan. Officials noted that wheat prices in Punjab had climbed from around Rs3,200 per 40 kg in early April to between Rs4,200 and Rs4,600, representing an increase of more than 30 to 40 per cent within a few months.
Speculative Storage Incentives
The chief minister was also briefed that returns from holding wheat stocks had begun to exceed the returns available through National Savings instruments, creating incentives for speculative storage and hoarding. The meeting reviewed flour prices in major cities and was informed that average atta prices per kilogram were Rs135 in Karachi, Rs131 in Hyderabad, Rs124 in Sukkur, and Rs124 in Larkana. An analysis was presented showing that rising wheat prices were directly translating into higher flour and roti prices.
Government's Priority: Consumer Protection
Murad Shah emphasised that the government’s priority was to protect consumers from unjustified price increases. “Any increase in wheat prices must not become an excuse for excessive profiteering. The administration must ensure that consumers receive flour at fair prices,” he said.
Enforcement Measures Under the Sindh Essential Commodities Act
Reviewing proposals submitted by the Food Department, the chief minister directed authorities to immediately intensify enforcement under the Sindh Essential Commodities Price Control and Prevention of Profiteering and Hoarding Act, 2005. He ordered district administrations to identify illegal stockpiles, inspect warehouses, and take action against unlicensed wheat traders. The meeting was informed that border monitoring had already been initiated to prevent the unauthorised movement of wheat outside the province.
Directives to Stabilise Wheat and Flour Supplies
Murad Shah directed the food department to strictly monitor wheat stocks across Sindh; enforce licensing requirements for wheat storage and trading; take legal action against hoarders and profiteers; strengthen border surveillance to curb unauthorised wheat movement; ensure regular market supplies to stabilise prices; and expedite proposals for fixing stock limits for flour mills. The chief minister was informed that a summary proposing stock limits for flour mills had already been submitted for consideration by the Sindh Cabinet. It was also proposed that wheat stocks seized from illegal hoarders be treated as government-procured wheat and shifted to official godowns. Under the proposal, the owners of seized stocks would be compensated at a rate of Rs3,500 per 40 kg.
Conclusion: Commitment to Affordable Wheat and Flour
Concluding the meeting, Murad Shah directed all concerned departments to maintain close coordination and submit regular reports on wheat stocks, prices, and market conditions. “Our objective is simple: wheat and flour must remain available, affordable, and accessible to every citizen of Sindh. No one will be allowed to manipulate the market at the expense of the public,” the chief minister said.
