Deputy Prime Minister to head steering committee tasked with assessing national wheat requirements and recommending an operational import mechanism.
ISLAMABAD: The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet has approved the formation of a high-level Steering Committee to assess Pakistan’s wheat requirements and develop an operational mechanism for wheat imports in consultation with provincial governments.
The decision was taken during a virtual meeting of the ECC chaired by Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb at the Finance Division.
Committee to assess wheat import requirements
The ECC considered a summary submitted by the Ministry of National Food Security and Research and approved the establishment of the Steering Committee under the chairmanship of the Deputy Prime Minister.
According to the decision, the committee will carry out a comprehensive assessment of the country’s wheat requirements and formulate an operational framework for any future wheat imports, taking into account the needs and demand of all four provinces.
The move is intended to ensure that any decision on wheat imports is based on a coordinated national assessment rather than individual requirements.
High-level representation
The Steering Committee will include senior federal and provincial officials, reflecting a coordinated approach to food security and import planning.
Its members include:
• Deputy Prime Minister (Chairman)
• Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research
• Federal Minister for Commerce
• Federal Minister for Economic Affairs
• Minister for Law
• Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) for Coordination of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister/Minister for Foreign Affairs
• Coordinator to the Prime Minister on Agriculture and Food Security
• Secretary, Finance Division
• Secretary, Ministry of Commerce
• Secretary, Ministry of National Food Security and Research
• Chairman, Federal Board of Revenue (FBR)
• Chief Secretaries of Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan
• Chairman, Trading Corporation of Pakistan (TCP)
The committee has been mandated to evaluate domestic wheat availability, assess provincial demand and recommend an appropriate mechanism for wheat imports if the country’s supply situation requires additional procurement from international markets.
Senior ministers attend ECC meeting
The ECC meeting was attended by Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research Rana Tanveer Hussain, Federal Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan, Federal Minister for Investment Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh, Federal Minister for Power Sardar Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari, and Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Industries and Production Haroon Akhtar Khan.
The Coordinator to the Prime Minister on Agriculture and Food Security, along with federal secretaries and senior officials from relevant ministries, divisions and regulatory authorities, also participated in the meeting.
Coordinated approach to food security
The establishment of the Steering Committee is expected to strengthen coordination between the federal and provincial governments on wheat procurement and import decisions.
By assessing national stocks, provincial requirements and market conditions before recommending imports, the committee aims to ensure timely policy decisions, safeguard food security and develop a transparent operational framework for future wheat import arrangements.