Peshawar, Jan 21, 2026: In response to the Punjab government’s restrictions on the inter-provincial movement of wheat, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government on Wednesday said it had taken steps to ensure availability of the basic commodity in the province.
According to a statement, Chief Minister Muhammad Sohail Afridi directed the Food Department to release 136,000 metric tonnes of wheat from the province’s strategic reserves. The move aims to protect consumers from escalating prices in the open market and prevent any disruption in the supply of wheat and flour.
Following the Punjab government’s restrictions, wheat prices in KP’s markets surged to Rs. 13,650 per 100 kilograms. To counter this surge and make wheat affordable, the provincial government has announced that wheat will be supplied at a subsidized rate of Rs. 10,414 per 100 kilograms. As a result, a 20-kilogram bag of flour will be available at Rs. 2,220, down from the previous market price of Rs. 3,020.
The chief minister said that Article 151 of the Constitution guarantees the free movement of essential commodities across the country, and the KP government will not allow the availability of food to become hostage to provincial barriers or administrative restrictions.
He added that safeguarding the fundamental rights of the people is a constitutional obligation, and no compromise will be made in this regard.
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