Millions of maunds of wheat stored in government warehouses in Karachi’s Landhi area have reportedly deteriorated and become unfit for human consumption, prompting flour millers to refuse to lift the grain released by the Sindh government.
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The wheat, purchased with public funds and stored at warehouses operated by the Sindh Food Department, has reportedly turned black and rotted during storage.
The condition of the stocks has raised concerns about potential financial losses, as wheat purchased for billions of rupees may have gone to waste.
According to media reports, the stockpile includes wheat that has remained in storage for as long as four years, with a significant portion allegedly damaged and unusable.
The exact quantity of spoiled wheat and the total financial loss have not been independently established.
Flour Millers Refuse to Lift Damaged Wheat
The Sindh chapter of the Pakistan Flour Mills Association (PFMA) has refused to lift wheat from the Landhi warehouses after inspecting the government-held stocks.
Association chairman Malik Iqbal said a substantial portion of the grain was damaged and called on the authorities to separate spoiled wheat from stocks that remained fit for consumption.
He said flour millers could consider lifting the usable wheat once the damaged grain had been removed and the quality of the remaining supplies had been established.
The refusal has raised questions about the condition of government wheat reserves and the handling of food stocks purchased using public money.
Flour Supply Concerns Grow in Sindh
Flour millers have warned that wheat shortages could intensify in the coming months, potentially affecting flour availability and prices.
Sindh requires approximately one million metric tonnes of wheat, according to the information provided by the industry. Millers have expressed concern that supplies could fall short despite the existence of government-held stocks.
The condition of the stored wheat has added to concerns about whether available reserves can meet demand.
If a substantial quantity is confirmed to be unfit for consumption, the authorities may need to assess how much usable wheat remains and how any supply gap can be addressed.
Flour Mills Seek Permission to Import Wheat
PFMA has reportedly written to the prime minister, the president and the chief minister of Sindh, urging the authorities to permit wheat imports.
The association cited concerns about reduced domestic production and the condition of government reserves as reasons for seeking permission to bring in wheat from abroad.
The request comes amid uncertainty over the availability of sufficient supplies for flour mills in the coming months.
Any decision on imports would depend on the government’s assessment of domestic production, existing stocks, market requirements and applicable import policy.
Millers Welcome Wheat Price but Demand Action on Spoiled Stocks
Malik Iqbal described the government’s official wheat price of Rs12,500 per maund as encouraging.
However, he maintained that the damaged stocks must first be separated from usable wheat before millers could consider purchasing the remaining grain.
The association has also expressed support for the government’s new wheat policy, saying it could help curb corruption and reduce the financial burden of government subsidies.
The situation has renewed attention on wheat storage, stock management and the use of public funds in Sindh’s food procurement system.
The authorities’ assessment of the damaged stocks, including the quantity fit for consumption and the extent of any financial loss, will be important in determining the next steps.
