Sindh CM orders release of government wheat to flour mills from Oct 1
Sindh’s chief minister directed the Food Department to start releasing 144,000+ metric tons of seized wheat to flour mills on October 1, aiming to boost market supply and curb flour prices.
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Sector Effect
Positive · Buy bias
Increased wheat supply should lower flour prices, benefiting food companies like PPL – Buy bias.
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Desk call: Buy bias · Positively affected
- EconomyPositively affected
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- PPL· Positively affected · Buy bias
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Sectors: Economy — Positive · Buy bias. PSX tickers: PPL. Increased wheat supply should lower flour prices, benefiting food companies like PPL – Buy bias.
Full Story
Open on Business Recorder## Government Decision
Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah reviewed the province’s wheat stock position and instructed the Food Department to begin releasing government‑owned wheat to flour mills starting 1 October. The move is intended to ensure adequate market supplies and bring down flour prices across the province.
## Wheat Stock Details
- Total seized wheat: 226,918 MT - Available for lifting after litigation: 144,431 MT - Already transported to storage: 59,223 MT - Remaining to be lifted: 85,208 MT - Disbursed payment to wheat owners: Rs 2.855 billion
## Procurement and Import Plans
- Sindh plans to procure 190,000 – 223,455 MT of wheat from PASSCO, pending availability of Fair Average Quality wheat. A transportation tender will open on 22 September 2026. - The federal Trading Corporation of Pakistan (TCP) has floated a tender for 0.3 MMT of wheat imports, with the bid opening later this week. The province will monitor landed costs and supply implications.
## Operational Directives
- Food Department and district administrations were told to accelerate actions against hoarders, lift seized stocks quickly, and complete all procurement and logistics before the release programme starts. - Coordination with flour millers is required to keep the 96 operational mills (out of 101) running smoothly; Karachi’s combined grinding capacity is 424,473 MT.
## Expected Market Impact
The release of government wheat is expected to increase flour availability, discourage profiteering, and lower retail flour prices, providing relief to consumers and stabilising the food‑price environment in Sindh.
## Attendees
The meeting was attended by provincial ministers, senior officials, and special assistants, with several participants joining via video link.