ECC approves emergency import of 1 million tonnes of wheat

Emergency wheat imports aim to bring relief as flour prices continue to climb...

ISLAMABAD: In a move aimed at easing mounting pressure on wheat supplies and soaring flour prices, the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) has conditionally approved the emergency import of up to one million metric tonnes of wheat, with the estimated import bill standing at $340 million.

The decision was taken during an emergency meeting of the ECC chaired by Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb. However, officials said the final quantity of wheat to be imported will depend on the requirements of the provinces and their willingness to arrange payments before shipments are ordered.

According to the Ministry of Finance, a high-level steering committee led by Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar will oversee the import process, assess the country’s wheat requirements and develop an operational framework to ensure transparency and financial discipline.

Federal Minister for National Food Security Rana Tanveer Hussain said the imported wheat would cost approximately $340 million, while transportation costs within Pakistan would be borne by the provinces requesting the grain.

Officials said the federal government had linked wheat imports to the opening of letters of credit (LCs) by provincial governments to avoid financial complications experienced during previous commodity imports. Provinces seeking wheat supplies will also participate in decisions regarding import quantity, quality standards and procurement procedures.

Government sources indicated that the actual import volume could range between 500,000 and one million metric tonnes, depending on the final assessment by provincial authorities.

The approval comes as Pakistan faces a sharp increase in wheat flour prices. According to the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, the average national price of wheat flour has surged by 74% over the past year, reaching around Rs129 per kilogram, while prices in some cities, including Peshawar, have climbed as high as Rs150 per kilogram.

Officials said the provinces had collectively requested around 2.2 million metric tonnes of wheat to stabilise supplies and curb rising prices. The ECC’s approval for up to one million tonnes represents nearly 45% of that total demand.

The steering committee will now finalise procurement timelines, import mechanisms and financial arrangements in coordination with provincial governments. Authorities hope the emergency imports will help improve market availability, ease pressure on flour prices and provide relief to consumers struggling with the rising cost of essential food items.