ECC approves Steering Committee to assess wheat import needs

July 30, 2026 (MLN): The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet approved the constitution of a Steering Committee to conduct a need assessment and devise an operational mechanism for wheat import proposals and provincial demand, under the chairmanship of the Deputy Prime Minister.

The meeting was virtually chaired by Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb at the Finance Division, said a press release issued.

The ECC took up a summary moved by the National Food Security & Research Division before granting approval for the committee's formation.

The Steering Committee will comprise the Federal Ministers for National Food Security & Research, Commerce, and Economic Affairs Division; the Minister for Law Division; the SAPM for Coordination of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister / Minister of Foreign Affairs; the Coordinator to the Prime Minister on Agriculture and Food Security; the Secretaries of Finance, Commerce, and National Food Security & Research; the Chairman FBR; the Chief Secretaries of Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Balochistan; and the Chairman Trading Corporation of Pakistan (TCP).

The meeting was attended by Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research Mr. Rana Tanveer Hussain, Federal Minister for Commerce Mr. Jam Kamal Khan, Federal Minister for Investment Mr. Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh, Federal Minister for Power Sardar Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari, and Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Industries and Production Mr. Haroon Akhtar Khan.

Coordinator to Prime Minister on Agriculture and Food Security, along with federal secretaries and senior officials from the relevant ministries, divisions, and regulatory authorities also attended the meeting.

Lately, Pakistan started exploring the import of approximately one million tonnes of wheat after provincial demand for stocks held by Passco was found to exceed available supplies.

The import volume has been calculated based on requirements submitted by the provinces, with the move aimed at ensuring uninterrupted wheat supplies and safeguarding national food security.

Copyright Mettis Link News