November 29, 2007

Pakistan plans to import 200,000 tonnes of wheat
 

Pakistan plans to import 200,000 tonnes of wheat to boost domestic supplies and keep prices of the commodity in check, a government official said on Thursday (November 29, 2007).

International suppliers have until December 8 to submit their bids to supply wheat to Pakistan, said the official with state-run Trading Corp. of Pakistan.

The bids will be opened on the same day, he added.

In September, the government said it would import 1 million tonnes of wheat to plug a domestic shortfall.

"Smuggling of wheat to Afghanistan and Central Asian states have reduced the supplies, leading to an increase in prices," said a mill owner.

About 700,000 tonnes of wheat have been smuggled into neighboring Afghanistan, which if not checked could double in the coming months as traders are getting higher prices compared with domestic prices, he added.