The federal decision to fix the minimum support prices for wheat and to stop the staple purchase work from this year was delayed. Politically tough as a change in this policy is, multilateral lenders were pressing Islamabad to completely cancel agricultural commodity markets from the late 1990s to obstruct the productivity capabilities of this sector. The deterioration that is born can be removed. Both military and civilian governments resisted change to avoid public decline, even the ongoing IMF Funding Program did not emphasize the current administration that it was a one to implement it by June 2026. Continued as important structural policy reforms. Agricultural commodities markets became clear when Punjab decided against the purchase of wheat last year, despite the protests of farmers while falling prices.
Wheat prices and purchase works were done since the 1960s to protect farmers from pricing fluctuations and guarantee their minimum withdrawal during surplus and deficit periods. In addition, they were used to ensure food safety and to ensure citizens’ safety. But these goals have put a huge financial cost on the treasury, in which the center and the provinces have spent a lot of money on the purchase work, in which bank loans are unusual on storage, freight and interest payments on bank loans. The costs are. Waste and palefreys were other issues that increased costs. Nevertheless, the government is not the only basis for the argument for large -scale subsidy policy reforms paid as the cost of its intervention in the wheat market. Agricultural commodities, especially its intervention in the wheat trade, have changed the sector to change technology and farming methods, increase prices volatility, encourage storage, inaccurate resources and budget burden. Made. Ironically, farmers have not benefited from this policy. Most subsidies were put in pocket by meds, flour millions and corrupt officials. The upcoming change will really create a short -lived chaos in the short term before they make themselves in accordance with new facts. Saving policies will provide financial space to invest in high production seed types, and farmers improve production capacity, reduce production costs, and consequently adopt new technologies in consumer prices. Will provide help. If the government has to intervene, it should only be to deal with market incompetence and to ensure food safety.
Dawn, appeared on February 8, 2025
