The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the cabinet on Thursday approved the supply of 175,000 tonnes of 100 percent fresh indigenous wheat to the Pakistan Army from the 2026-27 crop, replacing the previous 50:50 mix of imported and locally produced wheat.
The decision was taken by the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the cabinet after the Ministry of Defence argued that wheat flour is the army’s primary staple food and directly affects the morale and well-being of personnel deployed in demanding operational environments, including glacial regions, deserts and other remote areas.
According to the government, the Pakistan Agricultural Storage and Services Corporation (Passco) had supplied 175,000 tonnes of wheat to the army over the past four years under a 50:50 ratio of imported and domestic wheat, following an earlier ECC decision.
However, military authorities reported that the imported wheat created persistent problems relating to taste, cooking quality and appearance. The resulting chapatis were considered inferior by troops, prompting repeated complaints about the quality of food served to personnel.
Although the ECC reaffirmed the 50:50 allocation policy in November 2024, the Pakistan Army subsequently procured additional indigenous wheat through private suppliers to maintain food standards preferred by soldiers.
The Ministry of Defence maintained that shifting entirely to fresh local wheat would ensure a consistent quality of flour while improving the overall dining experience for troops stationed across the country.
The military’s finance wing also informed the ECC that sourcing wheat entirely from the domestic crop would reduce reliance on imported stocks and generate estimated savings of Rs2.8 billion in expenditure.
Accepting the proposal, the ECC approved the allocation of 175,000 tonnes of fresh indigenous wheat from the 2026-27 harvest exclusively for the Pakistan Army, ending the blended supply arrangement that had remained in place for the past several years.
