Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who is in charge of National Food Security, authorized the import of wheat valued at PKR 57.19 billion in March 2024.
The disclosure comes amid persistent controversies concerning the accountability for the ongoing wheat crisis in Punjab. The Bureau of Statistics noted that wheat imports continued up to March this year, with a significant volume recorded that month.
Amid these developments, a four-member investigative committee is reviewing the rationale behind the continued wheat imports post-February 2024 despite reports of sufficient domestic stock.
The committee’s mandate includes determining the officials authorizing these imports and initiating corresponding letters of credit (LCs), which will submit a comprehensive report on its findings to Prime Minister Sharif.
Throughout the current fiscal year, the Bureau of Statistics has recorded wheat imports totalling approximately PKR 282.97 billion. During the caretaker government’s tenure, about 27.58 million metric tons of wheat were imported, highlighting the scale of the imports.
Former caretaker Prime Minister Anwar ul Haq Kakar addressed the issue in an interview on the social media show “Talk Shak.” He argued that overseeing wheat production is not traditionally within the Prime Minister’s purview. He pointed out a significant shortfall in domestic wheat production, which fell short by 6 million metric tons against the 34 million metric tons imported. Kakar criticized the artificial demand created by provincial administrations and noted that bureaucrats implicated in these practices remain influential.
