Lahore: The Punjab government has announced its Wheat Policy 2026, fixing the wheat support price at Rs3,500 per maund in a move aimed at ensuring fair compensation for farmers and maintaining stable wheat supplies across the province.

According to the official notification, Punjab plans to procure up to 2.5 million metric tonnes of wheat through collaboration with selected stakeholders. The policy focuses on strengthening strategic wheat reserves while supporting private sector participation in procurement and storage operations.

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Under the policy framework, strategic wheat reserves will be acquired through purchasing banks, with the provincial government covering 70 percent of financing costs. Stakeholders will also be provided free access to government-owned warehouses for storage, a step aimed at reducing logistical costs and preventing post-harvest losses.

The government has set the wheat price equal to the 2025 open market rate, ensuring farmers receive fair market value for their produce. To prevent monopolization and promote equitable distribution, the policy restricts aggregators from procuring less than 0.5 percent or more than 20 percent of total wheat supplies.

Farmers will receive full payment of Rs3,500 per maund immediately at the time of sale, a measure intended to enhance financial stability, encourage timely harvesting, and ensure uninterrupted wheat supply for domestic consumption, flour mills, and emergency reserves.

Punjab officials stated that the policy is designed to stabilize open market prices while enabling the government to maintain adequate wheat stocks for emergencies. Collaboration between the public sector and private stakeholders is expected to improve procurement efficiency and reduce storage bottlenecks.

The government has also announced strict monitoring of procurement and distribution processes to ensure transparency and accountability. Authorities expressed confidence that effective implementation of the Wheat Policy 2026 will strengthen food security in Punjab and deliver long-term benefits for both farmers and consumers.