Punjab Wheat Supply Ban Sparks Outcry from KP Governor: A Crisis of Food Security and National Unity

The political and economic debate around wheat supply in Pakistan has taken a sharp turn after Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Governor Faisal Karim Kundi strongly condemned the Punjab government’s reported ban on inter-provincial wheat movement. The issue, which first surfaced at the end of August, has now sparked concerns over food security, rising inflation, and constitutional violations.

According to reports, Punjab allegedly imposed an “arbitrary ban” on wheat supply to KP on August 31, 2025. Governor Kundi termed the move not only unconstitutional but also damaging to the spirit of national unity.

“The arbitrary ban is a blatant violation of Article 151 of the Constitution and a serious breach of national unity,” Kundi posted on X.

Article 151 of Pakistan’s Constitution guarantees free trade and commerce between provinces, restricting any province from blocking supplies unless Parliament itself authorizes such action in the public interest.

Punjab authorities, however, deny that such a ban exists, claiming there are no official restrictions on wheat movement. Still, flour mill associations and KP officials insist supplies have been halted, creating immediate shortages in local markets.

The impact of the wheat row has been devastating for ordinary households already struggling with rising costs of living.

• In Punjab, a 20kg bag of flour now costs around Rs1,200.
• In KP, the same bag sells for Rs2,800, more than double the Punjab rate.

This steep rise has pushed flour out of reach for many middle and low-income families. Citizens in Peshawar, Mardan, and Abbottabad have taken to social media, expressing frustration and demanding urgent government intervention.

One resident tweeted:

“We cannot afford Rs2,800 flour bags. Leaders are playing politics while children go hungry.”

Another Facebook post read:

“Punjab and KP must resolve this now. Food is not politics, it is survival.”

In response to the crisis, the KP Assembly unanimously passed a resolution denouncing Punjab’s wheat restrictions. The resolution highlights how the ban has triggered a 68% increase in flour prices across KP, worsening inflationary pressures in a province where incomes are already lower than the national average.

Governor Kundi also urged the KP government to release wheat quotas to flour mills to stabilize prices and safeguard consumers from speculative hoarding.

While many link the crisis to Punjab’s heavy monsoon floods, market analysts disagree. They argue that the wheat shortage is not due to crop losses but artificial scarcity caused by hoarders and stockists.

Despite a new wheat crop harvested earlier this year, traders are allegedly withholding stocks, expecting higher profits as demand soars.

“The wheat is there, but it’s locked in warehouses waiting for prices to rise further,” one Lahore-based commodities expert told PakBrief.

This practice, combined with administrative confusion, has aggravated the supply crunch.

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has so far denied imposing an official ban. Instead, she has focused on targeting hoarders.

On September 9, she announced a three-day grace period for hoarders to voluntarily declare their stocks, failing which the government would take strict action.

Meanwhile, Punjab recently introduced a long-term National Wheat Policy and Wheat Management Strategy 2025–26, aimed at:

• Ensuring food security
• Safeguarding farmers’ livelihoods
• Protecting consumers from price shocks
• Building resilience against floods and climate change

But the policy rollout has been overshadowed by the inter-provincial dispute.

Legal experts have also weighed in on the controversy. Article 151 of the Constitution clearly states:

• Trade and commerce between provinces must be free.
• Only Parliament has the authority to impose restrictions in the “public interest.”

This means that if Punjab has indeed blocked wheat supply, it may be a direct constitutional violation. The dispute could even end up in the courts if not resolved politically.

Beyond politics, the issue touches on Pakistan’s broader food security challenge. Rising flour prices directly hit the poorest households, which rely on wheat as their staple food. Prolonged restrictions or supply disruptions risk triggering protests, social unrest, and even humanitarian crises in worst-affected areas.

Public opinion across social platforms reflects this urgency:

• On TikTok, videos from KP show empty flour bags with captions like “Bread is becoming a luxury.”
• On X, hashtags like #WheatCrisis and #FlourPriceHike are trending.

Experts believe resolving the crisis requires coordination, not confrontation, between Punjab and KP. Immediate steps could include:

1. Transparent wheat supply reporting to end confusion about bans.
2. Crackdown on hoarders and black marketing across provinces.
3. Inter-provincial coordination committees for fair wheat quotas.
4. Monitoring price controls to shield consumers from exploitation.
5. Enforcing the National Wheat Policy 2025–26 to prevent future crises.

Governor Kundi’s sharp words may have intensified the debate, but the underlying reality is clear: Pakistan cannot afford food politics when millions of families are struggling to put bread on the table.