KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah on Wednesday announced that the Sindh wheat procurement target for the 2025–26 season would range between 0.8 and 1.2 million tonnes, with the support price fixed at Rs3,500 per 40 kilograms.
The announcement is part of the province’s continued efforts to ensure market stability, food security, and farmer protection amid rising input costs. The initiative, backed by a Rs55 billion relief package, represents one of the most significant Sindh wheat procurement drives in recent years.
Addressing a press conference at the CM House, Shah said the package includes major fertiliser subsidies on DAP and urea, designed to support farmers who have been hit hard by high cultivation costs.
“The support package includes one bag of DAP and two bags of urea per acre to further promote cultivation,” he said, adding that the provincial government’s goal was to maintain steady agricultural growth and protect rural livelihoods.
Sindh wheat procurement linked to Rs55bn farmer relief plan
Murad Ali Shah said the Sindh government had successfully negotiated with the federal government to suspend triple taxation for farmers temporarily. This move, he said, would help counter rising production costs and encourage greater participation in the wheat procurement process.
Flanked by provincial ministers Sharjeel Memon, Sardar Muhammad Bux Mahar, and Makhdoom Mahboobuz Zaman, the chief minister said the government’s plan ensures timely fertiliser delivery, transparent procurement, and prompt payments to farmers.
“Wheat procurement is vital for stabilising the market and protecting growers from exploitative middlemen. A support price assures farmers that their hard work is valued,” Shah added.
Federal coordination and IMF approval
The chief minister acknowledged that initial IMF constraints and federal hesitation delayed the approval process. However, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari played a key role in securing the federal government’s endorsement after several rounds of consultations.
“This achievement reflects the importance of coordinated negotiation, especially under fiscal limitations,” Shah said.
He recalled that the Sindh wheat procurement drive in 2023–24 successfully stabilised markets, prevented shortages, and helped control flour prices. The initiative also reduced the province’s dependence on wheat imports, conserving precious foreign exchange reserves.
Although the Sindh government initially recommended a minimum support price of Rs4,000, it later accepted the federal rate of Rs3,500 per 40kg to expedite relief and ensure immediate support for growers.
Implementation strategy and procurement targets
For the 2025–26 season, Sindh plans to procure up to 1.2 million tonnes of wheat. District administrations and the provincial food department have been mobilised to ensure timely and transparent procurement operations.
Murad Ali Shah credited Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari for securing federal backing on several agricultural issues, including maintaining a fair support price, revising taxation policies, and shelving the proposed triple tax on farmers.
He said that fertiliser shortages, which affected yields last year, were being addressed through direct provincial interventions.
“Our departments are working closely to ensure the success of the Sindh wheat procurement campaign and to sustain agricultural growth across the province,” the CM added.
Law and order: government strengthening police capacity
Responding to questions from reporters, Shah said the government remained focused on law and order, tackling challenges such as rural banditry and urban street crime.
“Some sectarian incidents have also occurred in cities, but the provincial government is addressing them firmly,” he said, adding that the Sindh Police was being modernised through upgraded technology, improved training, and better coordination.
Afghan repatriation and inter-provincial cooperation
Commenting on the federal Afghan repatriation policy, Shah said Sindh would fully comply with national directives to ensure a peaceful and lawful repatriation process.
He also addressed the Punjab government’s ban on the movement of certified seed, saying he had directed the Sindh chief secretary to coordinate with his Punjab counterpart to resolve the issue.
Regarding the dengue outbreak, the chief minister said the provincial health department had been mobilised to contain the situation, while local bodies had been instructed to intensify mosquito-repellent spraying across Karachi and other districts.
