PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government has formally written to the federal government, demanding immediate intervention to ensure the uninterrupted transit of wheat and flour from Punjab. Provincial authorities warned that supply blockades by Punjab officials risk triggering a severe food security crisis within KP.
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According to the official communication, a massive demand-supply gap forces the province to rely heavily on inter-provincial trade:
- Annual Demand: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa requires 5.3 million metric tons of wheat annually.
- Local Production: The province produces only 1.6 million metric tons locally, leaving a massive deficit.
- Surging Prices: The supply shortage has already driven the price of a 40 kg wheat bag past Rs 4,700 in the local market.
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Constitutional Violation and Disrupted Consignments
The KP government explicitly stated in its letter that obstructing the movement of wheat and flour directly violates Article 151 of the Constitution of Pakistan, which guarantees free trade across provincial boundaries.
The letter highlighted specific supply disruptions, noting that Punjab authorities recently halted a major consignment bound for Dargai, Malakand. This blocked shipment contains 554.800 metric tons of wheat, which equates to 5,548 bags of essential grain.
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Threat to Strategic Reserves
The provincial administration pointed out that the restrictions imposed by Punjab authorities actively deplete Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s strategic food reserves. This disruption occurs despite the fact that the KP government has already approved the procurement of 225,000 metric tons of wheat.
Demand for Federal Intervention
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government urges federal authorities to take immediate notice of the situation, intervene directly, and instruct Punjab officials to release the delayed wheat vehicles without delay. It further demands that the federation ensure the transit of wheat from the Pakistan Agricultural Storage & Services Corporation (PASSCO) continues without further blockades.
