Rethinking our wheat policy

Pakistan is set to import one million tonnes of wheat as the federal government finds strategic reserves insufficient to meet the provinces’ requirements. More surprisingly, Punjab — the country’s only wheat-surplus province — has also sought 1m tonnes. Wheat imports are not unusual for Pakistan. The country has imported wheat in several financial years over the past decade to bridge supply gaps or rebuild strategic reserves. What makes the current decision unprecedented, however, is its timing....