Govt Prefers Wheat Imports

The Public Accounts Committee has criticized the federal government for not purchasing enough wheat from local farmers while importing the commodity instead. The committee, led by Moin Amir Pirzada, scrutinized reports on the Ministry of National Food Security's wheat and sugar policies for the fiscal year 2024-25. Audit officials informed the committee that the government's wheat policy had led to substantial losses for farmers, and inadequate provincial procurement further compounded the issue.

Provinces failed to buy sufficient wheat from local farmers, and inconsistent procurement policies exacerbated the situation. Despite this, the federal government permitted wheat imports, prompting the auditors to demand an investigation into the reasons behind these policy failures. The Ministry of National Food Security's secretary stated that wheat procurement is the provinces' responsibility, and the federal government cannot intervene.

However, PPP Senator Saleem Mandviwalla argued that the federal government controls wheat imports and warned that farmers might stop cultivating wheat if they cannot sell their produce. The committee anticipated importing approximately one million tons of wheat and criticized the government's decision to allow sugar exports. Former foreign minister Hina Rabbani Khar highlighted that farmers in Europe received substantial financial support while Pakistani farmers were not given adequate assistance.

She questioned the availability of foreign exchange for wheat imports but the absence of funds to support local farmers. PTI lawmaker Rana Qasim Noon accused sugar mill owners of contributing to the decline of cotton cultivation and emphasized the need for a long-term and consistent agricultural policy. The committee instructed the Ministry of National Food Security to provide an update on the government's wheat and sugar policies during their next session on September 24 and invited officials from the Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission to brief the committee.