ISLAMABAD: In a move aimed at encouraging cultivation and boosting domestic production, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday proposed a price of Rs4,500 per maund (40kg) for the 2027 wheat crop, an increase of Rs1,000 over last year.
The proposal comes as Pakistan seeks to strengthen food security and reduce reliance on imported wheat after having to import the commodity over the past two years, while farmers have faced mounting production costs amid inflation and higher fuel prices.
In a statement, the prime minister said the proposed price was intended to provide relief to growers struggling with rising agricultural input costs and to help them recover their expenses while earning a reasonable profit.
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The government hopes the higher benchmark will encourage farmers to allocate more land to wheat cultivation in the coming season, leading to a stronger sowing drive and increased domestic output in 2027.
The proposed rate represents an increase from Rs3,500 per maund last year. The statement said the initiative was aimed at making wheat cultivation more financially viable and providing growers with an incentive to maintain or expand production.
PM Sharif said the measure formed part of the government’s efforts to protect farmers’ economic interests, strengthen the agricultural sector and move the country towards greater self-sufficiency in meeting its food requirements.
The statement said the proposal had been made with the input of President Asif Ali Zardari and PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif, following consultations with the chief ministers of Punjab and Sindh.
However, the statement conspicuously left the chief ministers of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa out of the picture, despite referring to consultations with the chief executives of Punjab and Sindh.
The prime minister singled out Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, his niece, for thanks over her cooperation and suggestions during the consultations, while also expressing gratitude to Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah for his support.
The statement said the proposed price was intended to improve incentives for wheat growers facing rising input costs and pressure on farm incomes.
The measure was expected to support agricultural production and bring greater stability to the sector, it added.
However, the announcement described Rs4,500 per maund as an illustrative price and did not clarify whether it would be adopted as a guaranteed procurement rate.
It also did not specify how the proposed price would be implemented or what mechanism would ensure that farmers receive it.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026