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Islamabad: Pakistan may import wheat from neighbouring India to meet the current shortage, officials said yesterday.
The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the cabinet has approved a proposal to import 1.5 million tonnes of wheat.
Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani ordered that 250,000 tonnes of wheat should be imported immediately because the price in the world market was showing a downward trend.
Pakistan's total consumption of wheat is estimated at 2.2 million tonnes whereas the production for this year is around 2 million tonnes - of which, according to rough estimates, 0.2 million tonnes is smuggled to Afghanistan. An official said the government may allow wheat import by individuals from India after testing it for Karnal Bunt, the fungus that had earlier led to the rejection of wheat from India.
He said the quickest import can be from India by road through the Wagah Border.
The government will take up this issue with the Indian authorities "very soon", he added.
Flour millers have been quoted as saying that they were making arrangements for import of wheat from India to bridge the shortage gap. The millers said about 5,000 tonnes of wheat could be immediately imported from Punjab in India.
Last month, the government increased by Rs160 the wheat price to Rs625 per 40 kg withdrawing all subsidies on it. This resulted in flour becoming more expensive by at least Rs50 per 20 kg bag which is now being sold for Rs375 at government stores. In the open market, the same bag costs Rs400.
Moreover, the decision to enhance the wheat support price was taken after it was reported that the government was importing wheat from Australia and the United States at the rate of Rs1,200 per 40kg.
The country in recent months faced severe flour crisis and the price of roti has been increased by almost 70 per cent. The roti that was being sold for Rs3 is now available for Rs5.
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