PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is facing the risk of a wheat shortage, with official stocks in government warehouses sufficient for only two weeks of provincial consumption.
According to documents from the KP Food Department, the province currently has 189,000 metric tons of wheat in its government storerooms. The province requires approximately 14,900 metric tons of wheat daily.
The document shows that KP has an annual wheat requirement of 5.436 million metric tons. However, the province’s own production stands at only 1.472 million metric tons. This leaves an annual shortfall of 3.964 million metric tons that must be met through imports and supplies from other provinces. With a total population of 43.843 million, the dependence on external supply is significant.
The KP Food Department has sounded the alarm over the potential crisis and has urged urgent measures to ensure uninterrupted supply.
Officials said that 225,000 metric tons of wheat from PASSCO is currently “in the pipeline” and expected to arrive soon. However, until that delivery is completed, the province remains vulnerable to supply disruptions.
The warning comes amid rising wheat and flour prices across the country. Experts say any delay in federal supplies could lead to hoarding and further price hikes in KP’s markets.
The provincial government has not yet announced any emergency procurement plan, but sources say talks with PASSCO and other provinces are ongoing to secure additional wheat stocks for the coming months.
Read also: KP Food Department seeks wheat supply from PASSCO
