PESHAWAR (Lord Media): Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Information Minister Shafi Jan has assured that the wheat situation in the province is completely normal, with no shortage faced by the public. He stated that the province requires approximately 5.4 million metric tons of wheat annually, while it produces 1.6 million metric tons.
According to Shafi Jan, government warehouses currently hold 153,000 metric tons of wheat, and the private sector has over 116,000 metric tons in reserves, ensuring satisfactory availability of wheat in the province.
He informed that the provincial government has approved the purchase of wheat from local farmers, with 40 kilograms being bought at a rate of 3,500 rupees, to provide fair compensation to farmers and encourage local production.
The Information Minister urged the Punjab government to lift restrictions on inter-provincial wheat transportation, allowing free movement to meet demand as needed.
He emphasized that inter-provincial cooperation can ensure food security and help stabilize the wheat market nationwide. He expressed hope that the Punjab government will make a positive decision on this request.
Meanwhile, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Special Assistant on Food Israr Safi noted that the province has low wheat production and imports 3.8 million metric tons from Punjab, which has an excess of 6 million metric tons.
