Imported Wheat Ship Arrives in Karachi

A cargo vessel carrying approximately 51,000 metric tons of imported wheat arrived at Karachi Port on Wednesday, with a subsequent shipment of wheat scheduled for the following week as the government strives to stabilize flour prices. According to the Karachi Port Trust (KPT), the geared ship MV Gokova M was assigned Berths 16 and 17 and docked at the port at 12:25 pm on October 28.

Another vessel, MV Great Rainbow, is anticipated to arrive on November 3. Collectively, the two ships carry more than 110,000 metric tons of wheat. The wheat is being processed at the Karachi Gateway Terminal Multipurpose Limited (KGTML), which underscores the port's contribution to supporting the nation's essential commodity imports and maintaining seamless cargo operations.

The government has assured that there will be no wheat shortage this year, with reserves of up to 6 million tons, as announced by Food Security Minister Rana Tanveer Hussain. He further stated that up to 550,000 metric tons of wheat could be imported if needed based on provincial demand. Hussain deemed the recent surge in wheat prices as artificial and predicted that prices should revert to normal within a few days.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif recently increased the wheat support price by Rs. 1,000 to Rs. 4,500 per maund for 2027. Earlier this week, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar convened a meeting of the Steering Committee on Wheat, which assessed grain availability nationwide and import strategies to maintain steady supplies. Dar instructed authorities to closely monitor the market and ensure appropriate wheat stock levels and declining atta prices.