Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has approved a "De-regulation and Free Market Policy" for wheat. With this policy in action, wheat can now be transported freely across provincial borders without any hurdles. This move is expected to give farmers the full benefit of their harvest, as they can now sell their wheat at better prices in open markets.

In another first, wheat procurement will now also be done by the private sector—breaking away from traditional government-only purchasing.

But while the policy brings hope, tension is rising.

In an All Parties Conference organized by Jamaat-e-Islami Punjab, party chief Hafiz Naeemur Rehman warned the government: if farmer demands are not met by April 15, a nationwide protest movement will be launched with farmers in every district.

He criticized the government for not announcing an official support price and failing to buy wheat from farmers. He said, “This is not just negligence—it’s economic murder of our farmers. Without solving their problems, the country can’t prosper.”

He also pointed out that this year’s wheat yield has dropped by 25 to 30 percent due to climate change, and urged the government to declare an agriculture emergency and draft a new policy with input from real farmers.

Leader Liaqat Baloch added, “By ignoring farmers, the rulers are playing with Pakistan’s future.” He also revealed that many farmers are so disappointed that they’ve reduced wheat cultivation altogether.