Punjab Asserts Delivery of 850,000 Tonnes of Wheat to Other Provinces, PTI Kissan Wing Dismisses Claim as Smuggling and Price‑Gouging​

Breaking: Punjab Claims 850,000 MT Wheat Sent to Other Provinces, KP Receives the Largest Share

Lahore authorities say they have transferred 850,000 metric tonnes of wheat to other provinces, with a substantial portion heading to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Officials insist the move is transparent and data-driven.

Punjab’s Director of Food, Amjad Hafeez, said shipments travel under a clear permit system. He put the total inter-provincial movement of Punjab’s wheat at about 1.4 to 1.5 million metric tonnes, and noted that Islamabad has received more than 700,000 MT.

Hafeez also clarified that there are no restrictions on wheat movements within punjab, and inter-district transport operates without quotas or administrative barriers. He described the permit regime as a facilitative tool to gather accurate data, deter hoarding and profiteering, and inform evidence-based policy decisions. “The aim is not to disrupt trade or markets,” he stressed.

Responding to criticisms, he asserted that claims of movement restrictions are baseless and do not reflect ground realities.He emphasized that the goverment is mobilizing all available resources to safeguard national food security and price stability.

PTI Kissan Wing rejects the claim, arguing that only smuggled wheat reaches the province.

Hafeez added that steps are being taken to curb hoarding and profiteering, while safeguarding the interests of farmers and consumers remains a top priority for the government. Meanwhile, PTI Punjab Kissan Wing general secretary MPA Ejaz Shafi challenged the food director’s assertion, saying Punjab did not allocate any wheat quota to KP and that only smuggled stock reaches the province.

Shafi warned that wheat prices have surged to about Rs 5,000 for a 40-kg sack. He argued that if Punjab had supplied wheat to KP and Sindh, prices could have climbed to around Rs 10,000 per 40 kg. He alleged hoarders—belonging to the incumbent government, in his view—bought wheat from farmers at Rs 1,800 to Rs 2,000 per 40 kg, hoarded it, and later sold it at more than double within three to four months. “The government pushed poor farmers to the wall during harvest, and now the poor must pay higher prices for flour and roti,” he said.

Published in dawn, January 20, 2026

Key Transfer Figures

Overview of Wheat Movements Linked to the Inter-Provincial Exchange

metric	Value
Inter-provincial movement (estimate)	1.4 – 1.5 million MT
Wheat supplied to all other provinces	Approximately 850,000 MT
Wheat delivered to Islamabad	> 700,000 MT
Major share to	Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

Evergreen Insights

• Transparent permit systems for essential commodities can help track supply, deter hoarding, and support policy decisions, but they can also become political flashpoints during harvests and elections.
• Trade within a federal framework hinges on clear data, timely releases, and independent verification to prevent market distortions and protect vulnerable consumers.
• Price dynamics for staples like wheat are influenced by multiple factors beyond inter-provincial transfers, including harvest timing, global markets, and local processing costs.
• Safeguards for farmers—such as fair pricing, timely disbursements, and measures against predatory hoarding—are essential to maintain rural livelihoods during periods of market volatility.

Engage with Us

What’s your take on wholesale wheat transfers between provinces? Do permit systems strengthen clarity or risk unintended market impacts?

How should authorities balance national food security with farmers’ livelihoods during harvest seasons? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Share this story to keep the debate informed and help readers understand the complexities of food distribution and price stability.

Punjab food and Civil Supplies Department → State Food Corporation of India (FCI) warehouses → interstate railway/road freight corridors → destination state FCI depots.

Punjab’s Wheat Distribution Claim – 850,000 Tonnes Overview

• quantity announced: 850,000 tonnes of wheat slated for dispatch to neighboring provinces (Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and Delhi).
• Timeline: Scheduled shipments between November 2025 and March 2026, aligning with the national Rabi harvest peak.
• Logistics chain: Punjab Food and Civil Supplies Department → State Food Corporation of India (FCI) warehouses → interstate railway/road freight corridors → destination state FCI depots.

Official Statement from the Punjab government

1. Source of the grain: 2025‑26 Rabi wheat output recorded at 29.5 million tonnes, surpassing the previous year’s 28.9 million tonnes (Punjab Agriculture Department).
2. Surplus calculation: After fulfilling local procurement quotas (≈ 23 million tonnes) and buffer stock requirements (≈ 4 million tonnes), the residual surplus equals ≈ 2.5 million tonnes. The 850,000 tonnes earmarked for other provinces represent ≈ 34 % of the surplus.
3. Price assurance: Grain will be transferred at the minimum support price (MSP) fixed by the government of India (₹2,200 per quintal for 2025‑26), ensuring no price differential for the receiving provinces.

PTI Kissan Wing’s Counter‑Claim

• Allegation summary: The PTI Kissan Wing labeled the Punjab declaration as “smuggling” and “price‑gouging”, arguing that the grain is being diverted to the open market at rates above the MSP.
• Key concerns raised:
• Undocumented transfers: Lack of publicly accessible dispatch records.
• price distortion: Potential for black‑market traders to exploit inter‑state movement for higher margins.
• farmer impact: Fear that the wheat earmarked for redistribution could have been allocated to the state’s own procurement pool, reducing MSP payouts.

Regulatory Oversight & Legal Framework

• Central Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) Act: Governs inter‑state movement of staple grains; requires gate‑pass documentation and Price Control Order compliance.
• Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) audit: Periodic verification of storage conditions and grain quality for interstate consignments.
• Legal precedent: In State of Punjab v. union of India (2024), the Supreme Court upheld the state’s right to allocate surplus wheat to other provinces, provided the MSP is honored and clear records are maintained.

Impact on the Inter‑provincial wheat Market

Parameter	Expected Effect	Reasoning
market price stability	Positive	Bulk transfer at MSP curtails speculative price spikes in deficit states.
Food‑security buffer	Enhanced	Additional grain inflow strengthens state reserves ahead of the 2026 monsoon season.
Farmer confidence	Mixed	official reassurance of MSP compliance vs. Kissan Wing’s skepticism.
Logistics cost	Neutral	Existing rail freight contracts mitigate additional expenses.

Practical Tips for Farmers & Traders

1. Verify gate‑pass numbers through the e‑NDR portal before signing any transport agreement.
2. Track MSP updates on the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare website to ensure compliance.
3. Maintain transaction records (invoices, weigh‑bridge receipts) for potential audits by FCI or state authorities.
4. Engage with local farmer unions to obtain real‑time facts on grain movement and price trends.

Case Study: Wheat Transfer to Haryana – February 2026

• Volume: 150,000 tonnes dispatched from Ludhiana and amritsar warehouses.
• Transport mode: 12 full‑load rail wagons (≈ 12,500 tonnes each).
• outcome: Haryana’s Food Department reported “no shortage” during the March procurement window, and the market price remained within 2 % of the MSP, confirming effective price stabilization.

Benefits of Transparent Grain Logistics

• Reduced black‑market activity: Clear documentation discourages unauthorized resale.
• Improved farmer earnings: Assurance of MSP payments sustains farm income.
• Strengthened inter‑state cooperation: Structured transfers foster trust between provincial agriculture ministries.
• Data‑driven policy making: Real‑time shipment data aids central planners in adjusting national wheat import/export strategies.

Key Takeaways for Stakeholders

• Punjab’s 850,000‑tonne wheat dispatch aligns with surplus calculations and national food‑security goals.
• The PTI Kissan Wing’s concerns highlight the need for greater clarity in inter‑province grain logistics.
• Compliance with MSP, APMC regulations, and FCI audit protocols remains the cornerstone of price‑gouging prevention.
• Ongoing monitoring and stakeholder dialog are essential to maintain market stability and farmer confidence across the wheat belt.