LAHORE: The Punjab government plans to purchase three million metric tonnes of wheat through the private sector at Rs3,500 per 40kg.

For this purpose, Punjab Food Director General Amjad Hafeez said the deadline for submission of prequalification applications by private sector firms had been set for February 12, 2026.

The DG claimed the Punjab government was releasing some 20,000 metric tons of subsidised wheat to 670 flour mills to meet the province’s daily flour requirement. “Wheat is being issued to flour mills at a controlled rate of Rs3,000 per 40kg to maintain steady availability of flour as well as price stability,” he stated.

While the supply of wheat to flour mills at subsidised rates had improved the supply chain, the DG said flour mills recorded a grinding of 34,000 metric tons of wheat, while 1.4 million flour bags were supplied to the market during the previous day. He said the notified retail prices were Rs905 for a 10kg bag of flour and Rs1,810 for a 20kg bag. In cases of overcharging, he said, price control magistrates were taking immediate and strict action.

Ahead of the holy month of Ramadan, he said, the flour supply chain had been further strengthened, and all arrangements were finalised to increase grinding and distribution to meet the expected rise in demand during the month.

Meanwhile, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf Punjab Kissan Wing General Secretary and MPA Ejaz Shafi had alleged that the pro-government hoarders had purchased wheat from farmers at Rs1,800 to Rs2,000 per 40kg. He claimed that they hoarded it and now, after six months, were selling it at more than double the price. He said the government had itself announced to purchase from these ‘hoarders’ for Rs3,500 per 40kg.

Published in Dawn, January 30th, 2026