KARACHI: A second ship carrying imported wheat has arrived at Karachi Port, bringing the total quantity of imported wheat received by Pakistan to more than 110,000 tonnes, raising hopes of relief from the wheat crisis, ARY News reported.
The vessel MV Great Rainbow arrived at Karachi Port carrying 59,132 tonnes of wheat for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The ship berthed at Karachi Port’s berths 16 and 17, where wheat handling operations are underway.
The Trading Corporation of Pakistan (TCP) has imported more than 110,000 tonnes of wheat through two vessels to help meet the country’s wheat requirements and ensure supplies.
The first shipment, carrying 51,000 tonnes of wheat for Punjab, arrived at Karachi Port on October 28.
The arrival of imported wheat is expected to improve supplies and may lead to a reduction in wheat and flour prices across the country.
Karachi Port is playing an important role in ensuring the availability of wheat and meeting the country’s food requirements.
Earlier, Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research Rana Tanveer Hussain asked private seed companies to reduce wheat seed prices to make seed more affordable for farmers.
Rana Tanveer Hussain made this demand while chairing a high-level meeting with representatives of private seed companies and the National Seed Development and Regulatory Authority (NSDRA) to discuss wheat seed prices and inter-provincial movement.
He was of the view that timely access to affordable seed is particularly important for small farmers, whose purchasing decisions are affected by the combined costs of seed, fertiliser, irrigation and other agricultural inputs.
Hussain directed NSDRA to ensure the smooth inter-provincial movement of wheat seed.
Coordination with provincial authorities and seed suppliers will be important in addressing movement-related difficulties and ensuring that seed reaches farmers within the appropriate sowing period.
Clear information on seed varieties, certification, pack weight and prices can further help farmers make informed purchasing decisions. Affordable prices must be accompanied by reliable quality and timely availability to support successful crop establishment.
The meeting focused on facilitating farmers through lower seed costs and uninterrupted supply across provinces, supporting timely wheat sowing and national food security.
