Press Release Title: Senate Standing Committee on Inter-Provincial Coordination held its first meeting at Chief Secretary Secretariat, Peshawar.

Press Release Date: 3rd November, 2025

The Senate Standing Committee on Inter-Provincial Coordination (IPC) met under the chairmanship of Senator Dilawar Khan to deliberate on the issue of inadequate coordination between the provinces of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Punjab in the supply of wheat. The meeting was attended by Senator Hidayatullah Khan, Senator Niaz Ahmed, Senator Abdul Qadir, Senator Naseema Ehsan, and Senator Nasir Mehmood Butt. Senior officers and representatives from the Ministry of IPC, Department of IPC, KP, and Food Department, KP also participated to provide technical input and assist the Committee in its deliberations. The Secretary, Food Department KP, presented a detailed briefing on the province’s wheat stock position. It was informed that only 17% of KP’s wheat requirement is met through local production, while 83% is procured from the open market in Punjab. The Committee was apprised that the Government of Punjab imposed restrictions on the inter-provincial movement of wheat to KP in August 2025, which has resulted in market instability and posed a potential threat to food security in the province. The Secretary further informed that repeated written communications from the KP authorities to their counterparts in Punjab regarding restoration of wheat supply have so far remained unanswered. It was also noted that this concern had been highlighted earlier by the Financial Advisor to the Minister for Finance, KP, during a meeting chaired by the Prime Minister of Pakistan, where the Interim Wheat Policy 2025 was under discussion. An analysis of wheat flour prices from August to October 2025 indicated a gradual increase in prices following the restrictions imposed by Punjab, underscoring the urgent need for inter-provincial coordination and policy harmony. After detailed discussion, the Committee observed that mutual cooperation and equitable sharing of resources among the provinces is vital for ensuring economic stability and sustainable national progress. The Committee unanimously decided to take up the matter with the concerned authorities of the Government of Punjab to resolve the issue amicably and ensure smooth inter-provincial movement of wheat. The Chairman appreciated the participation of provincial departments and emphasized that the Standing Committee remains committed to promoting cohesive inter-provincial relations and addressing issues of national importance through dialogue and cooperation.