Around 51,000 metric tonnes of imported wheat arrived at Karachi Port on Wednesday as the government works to maintain sufficient national reserves and control prices. Another vessel carrying wheat is expected to reach the port on November 3.
According to the Karachi Port Trust (KPT), the geared vessel MV GOKOVA M arrived at 12:25 pm on October 28 with a declared cargo of 51,000 metric tonnes of wheat. The ship was assigned berths 16 and 17 for cargo handling.
The KPT also confirmed that another geared vessel, MV GREAT RAINBOW, is scheduled to arrive on November 3 with an additional shipment of wheat.
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The port authority said Karachi Port is equipped to handle bulk commodity imports through Karachi Gateway Terminal Multipurpose Limited (KGTML). It added that efficient cargo handling operations were helping ensure the smooth movement of essential goods into the country.
The arrival of the wheat shipment comes as the federal government looks to strengthen national reserves amid concerns over price increases and the affordability of the staple food.
On Monday, Federal Minister for National Food Security Rana Tanveer Hussain said the government planned to maintain strategic wheat reserves of up to six million tonnes. He said arrangements were in place to meet the country’s needs and ruled out the possibility of a wheat shortage this year.
The minister added that the government could import up to 550,000 metric tonnes of wheat, depending on provincial needs and market demand.
Hussain also expressed concern over rising wheat prices, describing the increase as artificial and blaming certain market players for manipulating prices. He said the government was keeping a close watch on market conditions and would take action against speculation, artificial shortages and unjustified price increases.
Last week, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced an indicative wheat price of Rs4,500 per maund for 2027. The rate is Rs1,000 higher than the price announced for the previous year.
Separately, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar chaired a meeting of the Steering Committee on Wheat on Wednesday to review the country’s grain stocks and import arrangements.
According to the Foreign Office, the committee examined the overall availability of wheat and discussed steps to ensure a stable domestic supply.
Dar stressed that maintaining adequate wheat reserves and avoiding disruptions in supply remained key government priorities. He also called for better coordination between federal and provincial authorities to help keep wheat prices within reach of consumers.
The latest shipment and planned imports are part of the government’s broader efforts to secure wheat supplies, maintain strategic reserves and monitor market prices as concerns over food costs continue to affect households across Pakistan.