Pakistan's wheat support price 2027 has been set at Rs4,500 per maund, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's office said on Friday. The figure is Rs1,000 higher than last year's price, and the statement describes it as an illustrative rate meant to encourage wheat sowing for the coming season. It is still below the price farmers had asked for.
What the government decided
The prime minister took the decision with the guidance of President Asif Ali Zardari and PML-N (Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz) President Nawaz Sharif, according to the Prime Minister's Office (PMO). It was also reached in consultation with the chief ministers of Punjab and Sindh. The PM thanked Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz and Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah for their cooperation.
The PMO said the aim is to promote agriculture, protect farmers' economic interests and increase wheat output next year. The rate is described as illustrative and proposed, and no purchase schedule or start date was included in the announcement.
Why the price was raised
According to the PMO, the increase responds to higher production costs, rising fuel costs and inflation pressure. The prime minister said farmers had faced financial difficulties in recent years and that Pakistan had to import wheat in the last two years. He hopes the new rate will help farmers cover their costs and earn a profit, which he linked to food security and self-reliance.
Farmers' demand and the gap
Last month, the Pakistan Kissan Ittehad, a farmers' body, asked for a support price of Rs5,000 per 40kg. It warned that farmers might not sow wheat if the government delayed announcing crop policies, and said growers could not afford balanced fertiliser use because they were not recovering production costs.
A maund is 40 kilograms in this context, so the wheat support price 2027 of Rs4,500 works out to Rs112.50 per kilogram (Rs4,500 divided by 40). The farmers' demand of Rs5,000 per 40kg equals Rs125 per kilogram. The gap is Rs500 per maund, or Rs12.50 per kilogram.
Timeline: what has happened so far
- Early October: Sindh CM Murad Ali Shah approved the release of government wheat at Rs12,500 per 100kg bag from Oct 15, to stabilise flour prices. That is Rs125 per kilogram.
- Oct 13: PM Shehbaz chaired the first National Agricultural and Food Security Council meeting. He said wheat was available in abundant quantities and vowed no leniency for hoarders.
- Last month: Pakistan Kissan Ittehad demanded a Rs5,000 per 40kg support price for wheat.
- Friday: The PM set the illustrative wheat price for 2027 at Rs4,500 per maund, Rs1,000 more than last year.
Aasan alfaaz mein
Hukumat ne 2027 ke liye gandum ki support price Rs4,500 per maund tay ki hai, jo pichle saal se Rs1,000 zyada hai. Yeh 40 kilo ka rate hai, yani lagbhag Rs112.50 per kilo. Kisanon ki maang Rs5,000 per 40 kilo thi, is liye yeh rate abhi unki umeed se kam hai. Agar aap kisan hain ya gandum ki qeemat par nazar rakhte hain, to agli fasal ki buaai aur bazaar ki qeemat par iska asar dekhna hoga.
