Azma Bokhari Refutes Claims of Wheat Movement Restrictions Between Provinces in Pakistan

Tensions Rise Over Wheat Movement Between Punjab and Neighboring Provinces

Punjab’s government has firmly denied imposing any restrictions on the inter-provincial movement of wheat, despite mounting criticism from neighboring Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Sindh provinces that claim supply chains are being disrupted.

Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari on Sunday dismissed what she called “baseless propaganda,” insisting that wheat and flour transportation continues to flow across provincial borders under a regulated permit system.

“Inter-provincial transportation of flour is continuing transparently through official permits, ensuring a clear and traceable record of all consignments being transported out of the province,” Bokhari stated, according to the state-run APP news agency.

The controversy erupted after the KP government sent a formal letter on October 23 asking Punjab to withdraw what it described as restrictions on wheat and flour movement. The letter warned that these measures were disrupting supply chains, increasing prices, and threatening food security in the province.

Meanwhile, Pakistan People’s Party leadership in Sindh has also accused Punjab of restricting wheat seed supplies, further escalating the inter-provincial dispute.

The Punjab government’s position is that it has implemented a permit and digital monitoring system not to restrict trade but to prevent hoarding and profiteering. Bokhari emphasized that these measures are in line with Article 18 of the Constitution and relevant laws.

In a pointed criticism of KP’s administration, Bokhari suggested the province should address its own shortcomings: “If the province’s flour demand has exceeded its production capacity, the provincial government should release its own stored wheat or procure it” from the Pakistan Agriculture Storage and Services Corporation (Passco).

She also claimed that over 200 flour mills in KP are currently non-operational and advised the province’s chief executive to “focus on reviving these mills instead of staging protests outside Adiala Jail” – a reference to KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi’s recent sit-in when he was denied access to imprisoned Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf founder Imran Khan.

The dispute touches on complex policy issues. In May, the federal food minister had announced plans to abolish Passco, but this decision was later reversed under a national wheat policy. The policy explicitly stated there would be no restrictions on inter-provincial wheat movement, which makes the current controversy particularly sensitive.

KP officials argue that Punjab’s actions violate Article 151(1) of the Constitution, which guarantees “freedom of inter-provincial trade and movement of goods across the country.” In their October 23 letter, KP’s food department emphasized their dependence on Punjab: “Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, being a wheat-deficient province, heavily relies on inter-provincial supplies from Punjab to meet its daily wheat requirement of approximately 14,500 metric tonnes.”

While Punjab officials deny implementing a formal ban, they have acknowledged establishing checkpoints to monitor what they describe as “unusual” wheat movement. Critics view these measures as contrary to the principle of a deregulated market.

Bokhari defended her government’s approach, stating that Punjab currently maintains 0.885 million metric tons of wheat reserves valued at approximately Rs100 billion, which she attributed to the “farsighted and organised policies” of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz.

She further noted that flour mills are being supplied wheat at Rs3,000 per maund (40 kilograms) to “maintain steady availability and price stability in the market,” adding that “the welfare of the people of Punjab remained her government’s top priority.”

The dispute highlights the broader challenges of food security and resource distribution in Pakistan, especially in the aftermath of recent floods that have strained agricultural production and supply chains across the country.