Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday set the proposed price of wheat for 2027 at Rs4,500 per maund (40kg), marking an increase of Rs1,000 from last year’s Rs3,500.
According to a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office, the decision aims to address rising production costs, provide financial relief to farmers and encourage increased wheat cultivation in the upcoming season.
The prime minister said the revised price would help growers meet higher agricultural input costs, including rising fuel prices and inflationary pressures, while ensuring a reasonable profit.
The statement noted that farmers had faced financial difficulties in recent years due to escalating expenses, forcing Pakistan to import wheat over the past two years.
Shehbaz said the decision would strengthen food security, promote domestic production and bring stability to the agriculture sector. The government expects the proposed price to encourage greater wheat sowing and improve national output.
The prime minister thanked Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz for her proposals and Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah for his cooperation, expressing hope that the initiative would improve farmers’ livelihoods and boost food self-sufficiency.
Separately, Shehbaz Sharif on Friday said Pakistan was seeking expertise from international consulting firms to advance structural reforms, improve state-owned enterprises (SOEs) and attract foreign investment.
During a meeting with Alvarez & Marsal (A&M) Managing Director Peter Briggs in Islamabad, the PM reiterated the government’s commitment to opening the economy to promising international markets and consulting globally recognized economic experts.
According to an official statement, the prime minister said the government was assessing the economic viability of SOEs and pursuing privatization where appropriate to support national economic growth.
He emphasized the importance of engaging experienced experts and professionally qualified personnel to strengthen the country’s economic growth engine.
Shehbaz said Pakistan was ready to establish productive partnerships with international consulting firms to support economic growth, with a strong focus on measurable impact and accountability. Peter Briggs appreciated the government’s commitment to attracting foreign investment and engaging international economic experts. He also expressed A&M’s interest in strengthening coordination and cooperation with Pakistan to develop a progressive business environment and a more productive economy.
Moreover, Shehbaz Sharif on Friday reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to the United Nations Charter, emphasizing sovereign equality, non-interference, self-determination and peaceful dispute resolution. In his message on United Nations Day 2026, marking the organisation’s 81st anniversary, he expressed concern over violations of the Charter, particularly in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir and Occupied Palestine.
The prime minister stressed the importance of multilateralism and the UN’s central role in addressing global challenges. He paid tribute to UN peacekeepers who sacrificed their lives, particularly Pakistani personnel, and acknowledged UN agencies’ contributions to humanitarian assistance, health, education and development.
He reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to working with member states to promote global peace and prosperity.
Polio Day message
Meanwhile, Shehbaz Sharif has reaffirmed Pakistan’s unwavering commitment to eradicating polio, pledging to continue efforts until the crippling disease is completely eliminated from the country.
In his message on World Polio Day, observed on October 24, the prime minister said Pakistan joined the international community in renewing its resolve to end polio, stressing that the country remained among the few nations still striving to achieve complete eradication of the disease.