Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Governor Faisal Karim Kundi has urged Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to lift what he described as “unconstitutional restrictions” on the inter-provincial movement of wheat, warning that such curbs are jeopardising the province’s food security. In a formal letter addressed to the premier, Governor Kundi argued that the existing limitations violate the constitutional spirit of federal cooperation and are creating unnecessary hurdles in the smooth flow of essential food commodities. He appealed to the Prime Minister to take immediate notice and direct the concerned authorities to ensure uninterrupted wheat supply to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The governor’s plea comes shortly after the federal government approved the National Wheat Policy 2025–26 — a comprehensive plan designed to strengthen food security and standardise the wheat supply chain nationwide. The policy was finalised in a high-level meeting chaired by Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on October 19, which was attended by chief ministers, provincial representatives, and key stakeholders from the agriculture sector. During the meeting, the Prime Minister underscored the central role of wheat in Pakistan’s economy and highlighted that the policy had been formulated with broad-based consultation involving provinces, farmer groups, and industry experts. According to the plan, both federal and provincial governments will jointly procure 6.2 million tonnes of wheat from the upcoming 2025–26 harvest at a support price of Rs3,500 per maund, consistent with global import benchmarks. Significantly, the new policy also lifts restrictions on inter-provincial wheat movement, ensuring smooth distribution across the country. To oversee its implementation, a National Wheat Monitoring Committee headed by the Federal Minister for National Food Security and comprising provincial representatives will meet weekly to report progress directly to the Prime Minister. However, amid ongoing political tensions between provinces, Punjab’s Information Minister Azma Bokhari clarified on Sunday that there is no restriction on the transport of flour in Punjab. In a statement, Bokhari said that if there is a flour shortage in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the provincial government should release its own wheat stocks from godowns or procure supplies from the Pakistan Agricultural Storage and Services Corporation (PASSCO). “Punjab cannot sacrifice the rights of its people for the political spectacles of another province,” she asserted, adding that nearly 200 flour mills in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are currently closed. The federal government has yet to issue an official response to Governor Kundi’s letter.
KP Governor calls on PM to end ‘unconstitutional’ wheat supply restrictions
