Sindh approves subsidised wheat release to stabilise flour prices
The Sindh subsidised wheat release will begin on October 15, 2026: Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has approved the release of government wheat to flour mills at a subsidised rate in a move aimed at stabilising flour prices and ensuring adequate supplies. A 100-kg bag will go to millers at Rs12,500.
Sindh subsidised wheat release: the numbers
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Subsidised rate | Rs12,500 per 100-kg bag |
| Release starts | October 15, 2026 |
| Government stocks | 346,414 tonnes |
| PASSCO procurement | 190,000 tonnes |
| Imported wheat | 300,000 tonnes |
| Total availability | 836,414 tonnes |
The Food Department has been directed to monitor markets so the benefit reaches consumers rather than stopping with the millers.
District-wise allocation
Karachi’s stock of 135,948 tonnes will rise to 565,948 tonnes under the plan. Hyderabad will receive 30,000 tonnes, while Mirpurkhas and Shaheed Benazirabad will get 60,000 tonnes. The province released 974,982 tonnes of wheat last year.
Why Sindh is acting now
The decision lands days after millers raised flour prices by an average of Rs14 per kg, pushing chakki flour to Rs210 per kg in retail markets and lifting tandoor naan prices. Retailers have accused millers of suspending supply to engineer the hike, while open-market wheat has climbed to Rs138 per kg.
The subsidised release is the provincial government’s first direct intervention in the current price spiral. Whether it cools retail prices will depend on how tightly the Food Department monitors the mills and the markets.
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FAQs
When does the Sindh subsidised wheat release start?
October 15, 2026. Flour mills will get government wheat at Rs12,500 per 100-kg bag.
How much wheat does Sindh have?
Government stocks hold 346,414 tonnes, with 190,000 tonnes to be procured from PASSCO and 300,000 tonnes of imported wheat, taking total availability to 836,414 tonnes.
Will this lower flour prices?
That is the aim. The Food Department has been told to monitor markets so the subsidy reaches consumers. Its effect will show in the weeks after the October 15 release.
