Wheat Supply: Murad Orders Crackdown on Hoarders to Meet Sindh’s Food Demand

KARACHI: Wheat Supply remained the focus on Thursday as Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah ordered authorities to intensify the crackdown on hoarders and profiteers. He also directed the Food Department to secure additional wheat stocks to address a projected shortfall of 2.11 million metric tonnes by March 2027.

Murad chaired a high-level meeting at the Chief Minister House to review wheat reserves, market availability, consumption trends and future requirements. He described wheat as a strategic commodity essential to food security and public welfare. He warned officials that the government would not tolerate negligence in maintaining adequate reserves or stabilising prices.

Food Department officials reported that enforcement teams had recovered more than 172,000 metric tonnes of concealed wheat during anti-hoarding operations. They said the recovered stock had improved market availability and helped reduce flour prices across Sindh.

Murad instructed the Food Department to maintain uninterrupted wheat and flour supplies across the province. He also ordered officials to prevent artificial shortages, stop market manipulation and continue strict enforcement against hoarders.

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The Food Department informed the meeting that Sindh produced 4.7 million metric tonnes of wheat during the 2025-26 season and carried forward 140,000 metric tonnes from the previous year. Despite these stocks, officials projected a shortfall of 2.11 million metric tonnes by March 2027 because consumption will continue to rise and significant quantities of wheat have moved outside the province.

According to the department, total wheat availability for 2026-27 stands at 4.84 million metric tonnes, including current production and carryover stock.

Officials said that by July 15, 2026, consumers and traders had used or moved nearly 2.6 million metric tonnes of wheat out of the supply system. The total included 1.9 million metric tonnes for human consumption, 500,000 metric tonnes transported outside Sindh and 200,000 metric tonnes reserved as seed for the next sowing season. The province now holds an estimated 2.24 million metric tonnes of wheat.

However, the official supply chain currently shows only 1.23 million metric tonnes. The Food Department holds 81,812 metric tonnes, enforcement teams have recovered 172,020 metric tonnes, flour mills possess 480,000 metric tonnes, and farmers have retained 500,000 metric tonnes for personal use.

Murad noted that nearly 610,000 metric tonnes of wheat remain unaccounted for. He said hoarders could be hiding these stocks and ordered the Food Department to accelerate enforcement operations to recover them.

Officials also informed the meeting that the Food Department currently holds 393,832 metric tonnes of wheat, including carryover stocks, newly procured wheat and grain recovered during anti-hoarding operations. They added that these enforcement efforts have already helped lower flour prices across the province.

Officials estimated that Sindh will require about 4.35 million metric tonnes of wheat between July 15, 2026, and March 15, 2027. Current stocks total 2.24 million metric tonnes, leaving the province with an expected deficit of 2.11 million metric tonnes. Murad directed the Food Department to strengthen enforcement, recover hidden stocks and secure additional wheat supplies to protect food security and keep the market stable.