{
  "id": 11337777,
  "title": "NA body seeks Rs5,000 wheat support price for Rabi season",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/02/na-body-seeks-rs5-000-wheat-support-price-for-rabi-season",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-10-02T02:29:24.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Dawn - Pakistan",
    "slug": "dawn-pakistan",
    "url": "https://www.dawn.com/news/2034136/na-body-seeks-rs5000-wheat-support-price-for-rabi-season"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "ISLAMABAD: A parliamentary committee has advised the federal government to establish a minimum support price of Rs5,000 per 40kg or more for wheat in the 2026-27 Rabi season and to implement an equal subsidy system for farmers throughout the nation. During a session chaired by Syed Tariq Hussain on Thursday, the National Assembly Standing Committee on National Food Security and Research also requested the government to finalize the nationwide wheat policy for the period between 2026 and 2030 before the commencement of the wheat sowing season. The committee emphasized that decisions made after the sowing season would provide limited practical value for agricultural producers. The committee instructed the Ministry of National Food Security to ensure prompt decisions on the minimum support price and the uniform subsidy program for farmers across the country. They also asked the National Seed Development and Regulatory Authority (NSDRA) to inform the committee about its progress since 2024 and submit the necessary rules and regulations. Concerned over the numerous challenges facing the agriculture sector, including increasing input costs, insufficient mechanization, poor-quality seeds, insufficient agricultural research, limited subsidies, inadequate storage facilities, weak export performance, and the lack of uniform and timely agricultural policies, the committee highlighted the need for a consistent subsidy program nationwide, pointing out differences in provincial approaches. Punjab is considering support through the 'Kissan Card,' Sindh provides aid to farmers owning up to 25 acres, while Khyber Pakhtunkhwa will offer an in-kind subsidy of Rs5,000. The committee called for a straightforward and easily accessible mechanism that would benefit farmers nationwide. Rana Tanveer Hussain, the minister for National Food Security and Research, updated the committee on the interim wheat policy from the previous year, the proposed National Wheat Policy for 2026-2030, and the various subsidy models under consideration. He mentioned that consultations with all provincial governments would take place within a week to determine the policy, which would be announced before the sowing season. The committee stressed the necessity of a uniform subsidy program across the country, noting the disparities in provincial approaches. They were informed that Punjab is considering support through the 'Kissan Card,' Sindh is assisting farmers with up to 25 acres, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa will provide an in-kind subsidy of Rs5,000. The committee urged the committee members to interact with their respective provincial governments and motivate their involvement in the national wheat policy. The committee highlighted that agriculture is a crucial pillar of the national economy and called for coordinated actions to enhance farmers' profitability and agricultural productivity. Committee members also expressed concerns about the availability of storage and marketing arrangements following the closure of Passco, noting that farmers would face limited options for storing and marketing their wheat. They observed that private storage facilities typically demand advance payments, imposing additional financial burdens on farmers. The members also pointed out the high cost of fertilizers and other agricultural inputs and called for measures to lower production costs and ensure the timely availability of inputs. The standing committee also examined rice exports and received information that a good rice crop was anticipated this year. They called for increased efforts to broaden export markets and boost the competitiveness of Pakistani agricultural products.",
  "summary": "ISLAMABAD: A parliamentary committee has recommended the federal government to fix the minimum support price of wheat at Rs5,000 per 40kg or above for the 2026-27 Rabi season, and called for a uniform subsidy mechanism for farmers across the country. The National Assembly Standing Committee on National Food Security and Research, which met on Thursday under the chairmanship of Syed Tariq Hussain,…",
  "key_points": [
    "National Assembly Standing Committee advises Rs5,000 support price for wheat in Rabi season 2026-27.",
    "Committee requests finalized nationwide wheat policy before wheat sowing season."
  ],
  "editors_take": "The National Assembly committee's recommendations for a uniform subsidy program and a minimum support price of Rs5,000 per 40kg for wheat aim to boost farmers' profitability and agricultural productivity nationwide.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Dawn Business",
        "title": "NA body seeks Rs5,000 wheat support price for Rabi season",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/02/na-body-seeks-rs5-000-wheat-support-price-for-rabi-season-11339602",
        "published": "2026-10-02T02:29:24.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}