Karachi: The federal government has begun the process of importing an additional 500,000 metric tonnes of wheat in view of its shortage following the recent devastating floods in many parts of the country.
Trading Corporation of Pakistan has already issued tender for import of wheat.
Sealed bids have been invited from international wheat suppliers till November 28.
Sealed bids will be opened on the same day.
Bids have been invited for import of wheat from 16 December 2022 to 8 February 2023. It has also been decided not to accept bids below 100,000 metric tonnes.
In September, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said that Pakistan may have to import about 1 million tonnes of wheat due to the destruction of fields after the floods.
It could come from Russia, but the country is open to other offers, he said in an interview with a foreign news agency.
He added that the country also needs fertilizers as factories involved in their production are closed.
Floods, likely to be worsened by climate change, have inundated a third of Pakistan and 33 million people are fleeing for survival, according to the prime minister.
Even before the floods began in mid-June, Pakistan was facing serious challenges from food shortages and skyrocketing crude oil prices, mainly due to Russia’s February 24 invasion of Ukraine and the war that followed. was born
One dimension of grain procurement is one of Pakistan’s most existential problems – its relationship with neighboring India.
When asked about the possibility of buying grain from India if needed, the prime minister said the notion was hampered by a “legal hurdle” — Kashmir.
The Prime Minister said that India is a neighboring country and Pakistan would like to live as a peaceful neighbor with India.
“But there are certain conditions. India has to understand that unless the burning issue of Kashmir is resolved through peaceful negotiations…with sincere intentions as peaceful neighbours, we will not be able to live in peace.
In the same month, the federal government had decided to supply 1.5 million tonnes of wheat to the provinces to overcome the shortage during the devastating floods.
It approved the supply of wheat to Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
The wheat crisis in the country had already started during the PTI regime when middlemen and hoarders hoarded it to raise prices.
Widespread smuggling in Afghanistan was another reason why wheat flour disappeared from the market.
Keeping in view the situation faced in the past, the government is working on building strategic reserves to meet any shortage of wheat in the country.
Managing Director of Pakistan Agricultural Storage and Services Corporation (PASCO) Saeed Ahmed Nawaz said that due to rains and floods wheat stock in the government warehouse has been damaged.
“However, wheat suitable for human consumption has been successfully separated from the damaged stock and is now being supplied,” he added.
“Due to the current situation, food security may become a concern in the coming months. High prices of urea, electricity and other commodities have discouraged farmers from sowing wheat,” he explained.
