ISLAMABAD: The federal government has officially abandoned its annual wheat support price policy in line with another condition set by the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
For the first time in recent years, the support price for wheat has not been announced despite the completion of wheat sowing season.
In previous years, the government traditionally set a support price for wheat during the sowing season to support local farmers. However, this year, no such price has been declared, signaling a shift in policy.
Sources suggest that the IMF has opposed government intervention in setting prices for agricultural commodities. The IMF’s position is that prices for crops like wheat and sugarcane should be determined by free-market forces, further tightening its influence on Pakistan’s agricultural policies.
This move comes as part of the broader economic reforms the government is implementing in compliance with IMF conditions, which include reducing subsidies and liberalizing pricing mechanisms for essential commodities.
