Wheat support price proposed at Rs4,500 per maund
The Prime Minister, the Punjab chief minister and the chief ministers of all other provinces have unanimously proposed setting the wheat support price at Rs4,500 per maund for the coming season. Punjab Agriculture Minister Syed Ashiq Hussain Kirmani announced the proposal in Sargodha on Sunday.
The announcement came as officials reviewed wheat cultivation targets for Sargodha Division and set out loans, fertiliser funding and seed subsidies for growers ahead of the Rabi season.
What growers will get
The government has launched several major financial initiatives for the Rabi season, according to the minister and a department spokesperson.
Interest-free loans worth Rs150 billion will be provided through the Kisan Card for the Rabi season. A further Rs17 billion in interest-free funding has been allocated for DAP fertiliser purchases through the Kisan Card, at Rs3,500 per acre.
A subsidy of Rs320 million has been provided on Punjab Seed Corporation certified seeds. After a discount of Rs800 per bag, the cost to growers comes down to Rs7,000 per bag.
Regular advisory support will be provided to farmers from sowing to harvesting. The minister directed the Punjab Seed Corporation to sell seeds directly to growers strictly at its official sales points.
The Sargodha target
A target of 1.725 million acres has been fixed for wheat cultivation in Sargodha Division. Field formations have been given special tasks to cultivate wheat on areas exceeding those targets.
Secretary Agriculture Punjab Shakeel Ahmed Mian confirmed that sufficient seeds and fertilisers are available. He reiterated a zero-tolerance policy against pesticide and fertiliser adulteration.
Commissioner Sargodha Division Hafiz Shaukat Ali assured the meeting that wheat cultivation will also be ensured on lands under the Apna Khet Apna Rozgar, Ghori Pal and Numbardar Grant programmes.
The meeting was attended by MPAs Sultan Ali Ranjha and Mian Ikram-ul-Haq, former MNA Mohsin Shah Nawaz Ranjha, the agriculture secretary, the Sargodha commissioner and other senior officials.
Why the wheat support price matters this season
A support price is a floor, not a market price. It tells growers the minimum they can expect from the state procurement system, and it shapes their decision to sow wheat rather than another crop.
This season, that decision carries extra weight. Pakistan faces a fertiliser shortfall of more than 200,000 tonnes, with gas supply disruption closing two urea plants, as covered in Pakistan Faces 200,000-Tonne Fertiliser Shortfall. DAP support through the Kisan Card is therefore not a side measure, it is part of the same effort to keep input costs within reach.
Flour prices add a second pressure. Karachi already records the highest flour prices in the country, as covered in Karachi Flour Prices Highest in Pakistan. A support price that encourages a strong wheat crop can help supply, but it must also be balanced against the price consumers pay for flour.
Other measures announced
On the chief minister’s instructions, strict action is being taken to eliminate canal water theft. Talks are ongoing with the Sugar Mills Association for an early start to the crushing season, which matters for growers who rotate between sugarcane and wheat.
The minister’s emphasis on official sales points for seed is also aimed at a familiar problem, growers paying more than the official price, or receiving seed of doubtful quality, from unofficial sellers. Direct sales at official points, backed by the subsidy, are meant to close that gap.
What happens next
Frequently asked questions
What wheat support price has been proposed?
A wheat support price of Rs4,500 per maund has been proposed for the coming season, agreed unanimously by the prime minister and all provincial chief ministers.
Who announced the proposal?
Punjab Agriculture Minister Syed Ashiq Hussain Kirmani announced it in Sargodha on Sunday, during a review of wheat cultivation targets for Sargodha Division.
What financial support will growers receive?
Growers will get Rs150 billion in interest-free Kisan Card loans for the Rabi season, Rs17 billion in interest-free DAP funding at Rs3,500 per acre, and a Rs320 million seed subsidy bringing certified seed to Rs7,000 per bag.
What is the wheat target for Sargodha Division?
A target of 1.725 million acres has been fixed for wheat cultivation in Sargodha Division, with field formations tasked to exceed it.
Is Rs4,500 the final notified price?
No, it is the proposed support price announced by the minister, and it must still move through the formal procurement process before notification.
