ISLAMABAD: The government in Pakistan’s eastern Punjab province has launched a public-private partnership initiative worth Rs20 billion [$71.9 million] to establish modern wheat silos, state media reported on Monday, with the move expected to prevent annual wheat losses.
Wheat silos protect the food from moisture, pests, rodents, mold, spoilage, floods and other phenomena than can otherwise destroy it. They help keep the wheat in controlled conditions and preserve its quality.
The public-private partnership initiative is expected to prevent nearly three million metric tons of post-harvest wheat losses annually and enable farmers to store their produce safely, state-run Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) said.
“The program has been designed to address Pakistan’s wheat storage deficit of 20 to 25 million metric tons, which has long contributed to post harvest losses and supply chain inefficiencies,” APP said.
Punjab Director General Food Amjad Hafeez said the province has sufficient reserves to comfortably meet its requirements until April 2027.
According to Hafeez, Punjab produced around 21.91 million metric tons of wheat this year against an estimated annual domestic consumption of 16.5 million metric tons, leaving a surplus of approximately 5.41 million metric tons.
“The surplus provides a substantial buffer to ensure uninterrupted wheat supplies, meet inter provincial requirements, maintain market stability and strengthen food security,” Hafeez was quoted as saying.
The official warned that Punjab government would not allow “unjustified increases” in wheat, flour and bread prices, stressing that these essential food items must remain affordable, particularly for low-income households.
“He warned that strict legal action would be taken against hoarders or anyone attempting to create an artificial shortage of wheat in the market,” the report added.
