صوبوں نے وفاق سے 22 لاکھ ٹن سے زائد گندم مانگ لی

**Provinces Demand Over 22 Lakh Metric Tons of Wheat from Federal Government Amid Rising Prices**

The four provinces of Pakistan have collectively demanded over 22 lakh metric tons of wheat from the federal government to control the increasing prices of wheat in the country and ensure the availability of wheat. In response, the federal government has decided to import approximately 10 lakh metric tons of wheat through the Trading Corporation of Pakistan (TCP). The decision was made at a meeting of the federal wheat board, presided over by Federal Minister for National Food Security, Rana Tanveer Hussain.

Background & Context

The prices of wheat have been rising steadily in Pakistan over the past year, with the average price of wheat increasing by 74% on the government level. The price of wheat has reached up to 129 rupees per kilogram, while in Peshawar, the price has reached as high as 150 rupees per kilogram.

The rising prices of wheat have caused concern among the people of Pakistan, with many calling for the government to take immediate action to control the prices. The federal government has now decided to import wheat to meet the demand and ensure the availability of wheat in the country.

Key Details

The four provinces of Pakistan have collectively demanded over 22 lakh metric tons of wheat from the federal government. The provinces have made separate demands for wheat, with Punjab demanding 10 lakh metric tons, Sindh demanding 7 lakh 20 thousand metric tons, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa demanding 4 lakh 25 thousand metric tons, and Balochistan demanding 57 thousand 500 metric tons.

The federal government has decided to import approximately 10 lakh metric tons of wheat through the TCP. The government has also decided to provide bidders with a back-to-back letter of credit (LC) to facilitate the import of wheat.

However, the government has made it clear that the wheat will be imported only through the TCP, and not through any other means. The government has also decided to provide for the payment of the imported wheat, with the provinces being allowed to use their own funds to pay for the wheat.

What Experts Say

The decision to import wheat is a welcome move by the government, said a senior official of the Ministry of National Food Security. "The rising prices of wheat have caused concern among the people of Pakistan, and the government has taken a timely decision to import wheat to meet the demand," he said.

However, the decision to import wheat through the TCP has been criticized by some experts, who say that the TCP is not equipped to handle the import of such a large quantity of wheat. "The TCP has a limited capacity to handle the import of wheat, and the government should have considered other options as well," said a senior official of a private wheat mill.

Key Takeaways

• The federal government has decided to import over 10 lakh metric tons of wheat through the TCP to meet the demand and ensure the availability of wheat in the country.
• The four provinces of Pakistan have collectively demanded over 22 lakh metric tons of wheat from the federal government.
• The government has decided to provide bidders with a back-to-back letter of credit (LC) to facilitate the import of wheat.
• The government has made it clear that the wheat will be imported only through the TCP, and not through any other means.

What This Means For You

The decision to import wheat will have a direct impact on the prices of wheat in the country. With the import of wheat, the prices of wheat are expected to come down, which will benefit the consumers.

However, the decision to import wheat through the TCP has been criticized by some experts, who say that the TCP is not equipped to handle the import of such a large quantity of wheat. The government should have considered other options as well to ensure the smooth import of wheat.

Furthermore, the government should also consider implementing policies to control the prices of wheat in the country, such as imposing a price cap on wheat. This will ensure that the consumers do not have to bear the brunt of the rising prices of wheat.

Finally, the government should also consider investing in the wheat sector to increase the production of wheat in the country. This will not only reduce the dependence on imported wheat but also ensure the availability of wheat in the country.