A ship carrying around 51,000 metric tons of imported wheat arrived at Karachi Port on Wednesday, while another shipment carrying more wheat is expected next week as the government seeks to stabilise supplies and bring flour prices down.

The Karachi Port Trust (KPT) said the vessel MV Gokova M arrived at 12:25 pm on October 28 and was assigned Berths 16 and 17.

Another vessel, MV Great Rainbow, is scheduled to arrive on November 3. According to KPT, the two ships are carrying a combined declared cargo of more than 110,000 metric tons of wheat.

The shipments are being handled at Karachi Gateway Terminal Multipurpose Limited (KGTML), supporting the country’s imports of essential commodities.

Govt Plans to Maintain Wheat Reserves

The arrival comes after Food Security Minister Rana Tanveer Hussain said the government plans to maintain wheat reserves of up to 6 million tons to prevent shortages. He said Pakistan could import up to 550,000 metric tons, depending on provincial demand.

Hussain described the recent increase in wheat prices as artificial and said prices should return to normal within days.

Last week, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif increased the wheat support price by Rs. 1,000 to Rs. 4,500 per maund for 2027.

Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar also chaired a meeting of the Steering Committee on Wheat on Wednesday to review national grain availability and planned imports.

Dar directed officials to monitor the market closely, maintain adequate wheat supplies and take steps to bring flour prices down.