Bumper crop: Pakistan to export about two million tons of wheat to Iraq, Bangladesh and Iran

Pakistan will export about two million tons of wheat this year due to bumper crop of the last as well as ongoing season and a major part of wheat would be exported to Iraq, Bangladesh and Iran. Pakistan last year produced 24 million tons of wheat and this year's estimated crop production is 23.87 million tons; country's local wheat consumption is about 22 million tons annually.
There is a huge quantity of wheat laying in government's stock and the country is in a position to export surplus wheat, while in this regard cabinet has already allowed the relevant quarters to make arrangements. Federal Minister for Food and Agriculture, Nazar Muhammad Gondal on Wednesday held a meeting to review the wheat procurement process and export. He said that the efforts of agriculture ministry, the ministry of commerce and trade have yielded encouraging results as the government decided to export 2 million tons of surplus wheat.
Gondal reiterated government resolve to guarantee the support price of 950 per 40 kg to the farmers. He said that 0.95 million tons of wheat has been procured so far in Punjab and Sindh by Provincial food departments and Passco. The minister said that the decision of the cabinet to export surplus wheat was followed by the formal contacts with certain countries with the help of the ministry of commerce.
Countries including Bangladesh, Iran and Iraq have so far positively responded and the government is seriously considering export of wheat to these countries. The meeting was attended by Additional Secretary Minfa, Shahid Hussain Raja, Wheat Commissioner Dr Shakeel Khan, J.S Food Jasmin Masood and PASSCO's officials.