Govt Invites Bids for 750,000 Tonnes of Wheat Imports

The Pakistani government has issued an international call for bids to import 750,000 metric tonnes of wheat, aiming to bolster domestic supplies and satisfy provincial needs. The Trading Corporation of Pakistan (TCP) has opened the tender, allowing suppliers to submit sealed bids with variations of up to 10 percent. The wheat, to be delivered to Karachi or Gwadar ports via Cost and Freight, must originate from the most recent crop year and meet quality standards.

Suppliers can provide the grain directly or through authorized local offices or representatives. The contracted wheat must align with the specified delivery schedule and comply with the Import Policy Order. The TCP clarified that bids under 50,000 metric tonnes, within the 10 percent range, will be disregarded, a measure to ensure suppliers can meet large-scale demands promptly.

The wheat will be allocated to provinces based on their requirements, with Sindh anticipated to receive 300,000 metric tonnes, Punjab 250,000 tonnes, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 200,000 tonnes. The procurement decision, approved by a committee led by Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, follows Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's approval of an earlier 1 million metric tonne import request from the provinces.

The move addresses a national wheat demand estimated at approximately 31.3 million tonnes for the 2026-27 market year, compared to a production projection of around 29.6 million tonnes. The Economic Survey 2025-26 also projected wheat production at about 29.61 million tonnes, a rise from 28.40 million tonnes the previous year. Current stock levels, including those held by PASSCO, which maintains strategic reserves, are also considered in the government's supply management strategy.