Shafaqna Pakistan: Wheat procurement being conducted by aggregators on behalf of the Punjab Food Directorate is reportedly facing significant shortfalls, raising concerns about the provincial government’s planning and preparedness for ensuring food security.
According to available procurement data, aggregators had secured only around 0.16 million tonnes of wheat for the provincial government by the end of May 2026. This is substantially below the revised procurement target of 0.86 million tonnes and far short of the original goal of 3 million tonnes.
Estimates suggest that Punjab requires at least 2.5 million tonnes of government-controlled wheat stocks this year to comfortably meet demand through April 2027, particularly given the relatively modest size of the 2025–26 wheat crop.
The end of May is considered a critical period for wheat procurement operations. The Punjab Food Directorate notes that nearly 75 per cent of annual wheat buying and selling activity typically occurs during this month, immediately following the peak harvest season. Farmers generally prefer to sell their produce early to clear stocks, while market arrivals are at their highest. As a result, missing this key procurement window leaves limited opportunity to make up for the shortfall in the remaining weeks of the season.
Yet, when asked for comment, an official reply from the directorate stated, “Aggregators have to supply us wheat as per the target from September onwards. They have the time till then.” The response reflects a casual approach to a critical issue. With less than 20 per cent of the revised target met, just over 5 per cent of the original goal achieved and the crucial May window already closed, the gap cannot be explained by pointing to a September deadline, said the market insiders.
Sources claimed that negligible volume has actually been bought directly from farmers and the rest are impounded grains.
The failure to secure wheat stocks on time puts Punjab’s food security at risk. Price of wheat in open market is already on the rise and its short supplies is being observed.
The province holds more than half of the country’s population and is the country’s breadbasket. Low reserves weaken the government’s ability to stabilise flour prices during lean months and limit its capacity to respond to market shocks including hoarding and price fluctuations. If private aggregators fail to deliver in September, the government will have little buffer and may be forced into expensive emergency imports, warned insiders.
The procurement collapse points to poor planning by the provincial government. The wheat procurement price set by the provincial government does not offer any incentive to farmers for selling it to aggregators. Consequently, targets were first set at 3 million tons, then quietly slashed to 0.86 million tons, yet even the reduced goal remains unmet. There is little evidence of active follow-up with aggregators, strict monitoring of delivery schedules, or penalties for non-performance. The reliance on private suppliers without strong oversight has left the official system exposed.
This is not just a departmental lapse. Food security is a core responsibility of the provincial government. Consumers will pay the price through higher flour rates if reserves run low in winter.
In a firefighting approach, it is learnt that the provincial government is going to implement a plan from this week to launch a province-wise crackdown for impounding wheat from what it called stockists and hoarders instead of direct purchases from farmers. As clock is ticking, without urgent action, Punjab risks entering the next phase of wheat supply from government godowns with empty silos and an angry public.
Source: The News
