Govt cracks down on seed firms, sets wheat policy feedback deadline

June 12, 2026 (MLN): The government has set a June 20 deadline for provinces to submit feedback on the proposed National Wheat Policy 2026–30, while directing strict action against bogus seed companies involved in the illegal movement and trade of wheat seed.

The directives came during the 13th meeting of the National Wheat Oversight Committee (NWOC), which reviewed wheat procurement, seed regulation, and production data.

Federal Minister for National Food Security & Research, Rana Tanveer Hussain, chaired the meeting, attended by senior officials of the ministry, representatives of provincial governments, and other relevant stakeholders, said a press release issued.

The committee deliberated on complaints filed by seed companies against the seizure of their wheat seed stocks by the Punjab government.

Punjab clarified that the companies were selling wheat in the open market under the guise of seed stocks, and action had been taken against only those involved.

It was decided that the Federal Seed Certification and Registration Department (FSC&RD) will share seed stock data with Punjab to be updated in the provincial portal, supporting the stock verification process.

The Minister stressed that no compromise would be made on regulatory compliance and that all stakeholders must operate within the legal framework to safeguard farmers' interests and ensure the availability of quality seed.

On the National Wheat Policy 2026–30, the Minister highlighted the need for a comprehensive and forward-looking framework capable of addressing emerging challenges in production, procurement, and storage of wheat to ensure national food security.

The committee was also briefed on procurement progress, with provincial representatives expressing confidence in achieving their respective targets.

The Minister directed all concerned departments to maintain close coordination for transparent and efficient completion of procurement operations.

On production data, Punjab and Sindh have submitted final figures for the 2025–26 crop season, while Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan require additional time to finalise their data.

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