Wheat war: Punjab's supply cut sparks bread crisis in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh

Islamabad (The Uttam Hindu): The ongoing dispute over Punjab's dominance in Pakistan's military and political spheres has now escalated into a "bread crisis." A severe flour shortage has emerged in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Sindh provinces, and the governments of both states have directly blamed Punjab for the situation.

Allegations are that Punjab is holding back wheat stocks, disrupting the supply chain in these states. This has not only led to skyrocketing inflation, but also forced the poor to pay a heavy price for two square meals a day.

On Thursday, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government raised serious concerns about the disruption of interstate wheat movement. It said that the disruption of the supply chain by Punjab was causing flour prices to rise and food security in the state to be in jeopardy.

The KP government has written a formal letter to Punjab warning it to immediately lift the wheat supply ban. "If this is not done, our food security will be at risk. Our state is facing a wheat shortage and we are dependent on Punjab for it. We need 14,500 tons of wheat per day," the letter said.

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government stated that Punjab's current quota for wheat supply is only 2,000 tons, seven times less than its requirement. Citing Pakistan's constitution, the government said that it guarantees that interstate movement of any commodity cannot be disrupted. The government warned that if supplies don't improve, the market will be in a panic.

Not only Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the PPP government in Sindh province has also launched a scathing attack on Punjab. The Sindh government alleges that the Punjab administration has also blocked the supply of wheat seeds. This could severely impact Sindh's wheat production in the upcoming crop cycle.

This dispute comes at a time when Pakistan is already grappling with regional unrest. Balochistan has witnessed a massive insurgency over Punjabi dominance, and targeted killings of people of Punjabi origin have frequently occurred there. This wheat crisis could further threaten regional harmony.