The Punjab government is facing mounting criticism over its decision to ban inter-provincial transportation of wheat, a move that has drawn sharp reactions from other provinces.
According to details, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government on Thursday urged Punjab to lift restrictions on the movement of wheat and flour between provinces, warning that the ban is disrupting supply chains, driving up prices, and endangering food security in the province.
Meanwhile, in Sindh, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leaders also criticized the Punjab government, accusing it of limiting the supply of wheat seed to the province.
In an official letter to his Punjab counterpart, the KP Secretary of Food stated that lifting the ban was essential to restore supply chains, stabilize market prices, and ensure food security in the province.
The letter noted that wheat-deficient KP relies heavily on Punjab for its daily requirement of approximately 14,500 tonnes of inter-provincial wheat supply. The current restrictions, it said, have severely disrupted the flow of wheat and flour, threatening food availability and causing market instability.
While KP acknowledged Punjab’s recent approval to supply 2,000 tons of flour under a permit, the province deemed the quantity grossly inadequate compared to actual needs.
KP authorities expressed regret that despite repeated letters from the province’s chief secretary, food secretary, and food director, Punjab has continued to uphold the ban.
The letter further said that the situation violates Article 151(1) of the Constitution of Pakistan, which guarantees freedom of trade and movement of goods across provincial boundaries.
Meanwhile, tensions between the PPP and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) have resurfaced despite apparent reconciliation among coalition partners at the federal level.
PPP leaders in Sindh have accused the Punjab government of blocking the supply of wheat seed to the province and have demanded immediate intervention by the prime minister.
