July 28, 2005

Pakistan surpasses wheat production target for 2004-05
 

Pakistan's wheat production for 2004-05 totalled 21.56 million tonnes, surpassing the set target of 20.20 million tonnes.

The country also spared one million tonnes of surplus wheat during 2004-05.

The Pakistani government reported that there was no shortage of wheat in the country, which had sufficient stocks to meet domestic requirements.

Pakistan's total wheat stocks totalled 21.86 million tonnes, out of which 3 million tonnes were carried over from the previous year's crop. This was sufficient to meet the domestic requirement of 20.8 million tonnes, according to the government.

However, the government has allowed the private sector to import wheat independently, if necessary, to meet any local shortages.

The country's 2004-05 wheat crop was sown over an area of 8.329 hectares compared with 8.209 million hectares in 2003-04.