Pakistan’s government has taken a major step to regulate the wheat market by banning wheat imports and flour exports. This decision was announced on Friday following a notification from the Ministry of Commerce.
A surplus caused by excessive wheat imports necessitated this policy change. The government has revised its Import and Export Policy Orders 2022 to enforce the ban, which now includes a prohibition on exporting flour made from imported wheat.
Previously, the federal government had allowed conditional export of flour produced from imported wheat under the Export Facilitation Scheme 2021. This policy shift aims to address the current surplus and stabilize the market.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, addressing the National Assembly on July 10, confirmed that no decision has been made regarding wheat export. He emphasized, “No decision has been made for the export of wheat. I want to bring it on record before the House that there is no such decision for the wheat export,” responding to parliamentary concerns.
Sharif also pointed to historical controversies under the PTI government, where wheat and sugar exports were followed by imports, leading to significant financial discrepancies.
A new amendment passed by the Senate grants the government authority to remove members of state-owned enterprises (SOEs) based on board nomination committee recommendations. This amendment will become law once President Asif Ali Zardari signs it.
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