Lahore: The Punjab government on Thursday announced its Wheat Policy 2026, fixing the wheat support price at Rs3,500 per maund to safeguard farmers’ incomes and ensure stable wheat availability across the province.
Under the policy, Punjab plans to procure up to 2.5 million metric tonnes of wheat in coordination with selected stakeholders. The initiative is aimed at strengthening strategic wheat reserves while encouraging private sector participation in procurement and storage operations.
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According to the official framework, wheat reserves will be acquired through purchasing banks, with the provincial government bearing 70 percent of the financing cost. In addition, stakeholders involved in the process will be granted free storage facilities at government-owned warehouses, a move intended to reduce logistical expenses and minimize post-harvest losses.
The government has aligned the support price with the 2025 open market rate, ensuring farmers receive fair value for their produce. To discourage market concentration and promote equitable participation, the policy limits aggregators to procuring no less than 0.5 percent and no more than 20 percent of total wheat supplies.
Farmers will be paid the full Rs3,500 per maund at the time of sale, a step officials say will enhance financial stability, promote timely harvesting, and ensure uninterrupted wheat supplies for household consumption, flour mills, and emergency stockpiles.
Punjab officials stated that the new wheat policy is designed to stabilize prices in the open market while enabling the government to maintain sufficient reserves to address any future shortages or emergencies. Enhanced cooperation between the public and private sectors is expected to improve procurement efficiency and ease storage-related challenges.
The provincial government has also announced strict oversight of procurement and distribution mechanisms to ensure transparency and accountability. Authorities expressed confidence that effective implementation of the Wheat Policy 2026 will strengthen food security in Punjab and provide sustained benefits for both farmers and consumer
