The federal government has decided to import 750,000 metric tonnes of wheat to strengthen domestic supplies and meet provincial requirements. The Trading Corporation of Pakistan (TCP) has issued an international tender for the procurement.
The TCP has invited sealed bids from international suppliers for the supply of the wheat. Suppliers will be allowed a quantity variation of plus or minus 10 percent under the tender conditions.
The wheat will be procured on a Cost and Freight basis. Delivery will be made to Karachi and or Gwadar ports according to the requirements outlined in the tender documents.
The imported wheat must belong to the latest crop year. International suppliers can provide the commodity directly or through their local offices and representatives.
Local representatives must be registered with the relevant federal or provincial tax authorities. Suppliers must also have the capacity to provide wheat in bulk from sources anywhere in the world.
The contracted wheat will have to be delivered according to the shipment schedule mentioned in the tender documents. The supplies must meet the prescribed quality standards and technical specifications.
The imported commodity will also have to comply with the Import Policy Order currently in force. The TCP has set a minimum quantity requirement for participating suppliers.
Bids for quantities below 50,000 metric tonnes will not be accepted. The permitted 10 percent variation will also apply to the offered quantity.
The minimum bid condition is aimed at ensuring that suppliers have the capacity to deliver large quantities within the required timeframe. The tender is part of the government’s broader effort to manage wheat availability.
According to government sources, the imported wheat will be distributed among provinces according to their requirements. Sindh is expected to receive 300,000 metric tonnes from the proposed imports.
Punjab is expected to receive 250,000 tonnes, while Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is expected to receive 200,000 tonnes. The distribution plan reflects the requirements submitted by the provinces.
The decision to procure 750,000 metric tonnes was approved by a committee chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, according to government sources.
The procurement follows an earlier decision by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to approve the import of one million metric tonnes of wheat. The earlier decision came after provinces requested additional supplies.
The proposed imports come as Pakistan faces a gap between its expected wheat production and national requirements. The country’s wheat requirement is estimated at around 31.3 million tonnes for the 2026-27 market year.
Production is forecast at around 29.6 million tonnes. This indicates a potential shortfall of roughly 1.7 million tonnes before accounting for existing stocks and other supply factors.
The Economic Survey 2025-26 estimated wheat production at approximately 29.61 million tonnes. This was higher than the previous year’s production of around 28.40 million tonnes.
Despite the increase in production, the government is focusing on maintaining adequate supplies across the country. Existing strategic stocks are also an important part of the supply management plan.
The Pakistan Agricultural Storage and Services Corporation (PASSCO) maintains strategic wheat reserves. It can supply wheat to provinces facing shortages when required.
PASSCO reportedly held around 1.783 million tonnes of wheat during the first week of July. These stocks provide an additional buffer alongside domestic production and planned imports.
The latest procurement plan is therefore aimed at ensuring sufficient wheat availability in the domestic market. The government will now proceed with the tender process and evaluate bids according to the prescribed conditions.
Also read: Punjab Government Opts Out Of Farmer Wheat Procurement
