KARACHI : The Pakistan Flour Mills Association (PFMA) has urged the federal government to allow direct wheat imports by the private sector to ensure the availability of affordable flour for the public, while warning that routing imports through the Trading Corporation of Pakistan (TCP) could open the door to large-scale corruption.
PFMA Sindh Chairman Abdul Junaid Aziz told Express that while the government has decided to initially import 1 million tons of wheat through TCP, the inclusion of subsidies in these imports and deliveries creates significant corruption risks. He called for an immediate shift to a deregulated, open-market mechanism.
“To remove these concerns and ensure healthy competition, the government should immediately allow flour mills to import wheat directly,” Aziz stated.
The industry leader revealed that the association had alerted the government and relevant institutions about declining wheat production two months ago. However, he lamented that policymakers paid no heed to these warnings.
“If policymakers had paid attention two months ago, it would have been possible to import wheat from Russia and Ukraine at low prices and cheap costs through the Strait of Hormuz during the ceasefire. Now, we will have to import from Australia, Romania, and Canada at significantly higher prices and costs,” Aziz explained.
The Chairman further estimated that Pakistan would need to import between 3 million and 3.5 million tons of wheat to meet domestic requirements. He also pointed to strict regulations as a contributing factor to rising wheat prices, arguing that the private sector holds vast hidden reserves of wheat that could be brought into the market if direct imports are permitted.
Aziz reiterated that immediate policy action is essential to stabilize prices and prevent further financial strain on both millers and consumers.
