KARACHI: Over 2.5 million tonnes of imported wheat was handled at the Karachi Port Trust (KPT) in the last four months, a port official said on Friday.

Meanwhile, the Trading Corporation of Pakistan (TCP) on Friday floated an international tender relating to further import of 300,000 tonnes of grain.

Pakistan imported 2.9m tonnes of wheat at a cost of $794m to the national kitty during July-Jan 2020-21. The average per tonne price of the grain stood at $273 per tonne, figures of the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) revealed.

The country allowed bulk imports of wheat by the public and private sector from the last week of Aug 2020 to curb soaring flour prices. However, this government initiative did not prove beneficial for the consumers who continue to pay Rs72 per kg for various flour varieties amid availability of local crop all over the country which arrived in March/April 2020. The new crop will hit the markets in March/April 2021.

Talking to Dawn, Chairman Cereal Association of Pakistan Muzammil Chappal said the private sector had imported 60 per cent of wheat from Ukraine, 20-25pc from Russia and 10-15pc from Germany. Wheat import initiated with the international rate of $219 in third quarter of 2020 and had reached $315 per tonne in February.

As per the PBS figures, given the average per tonne price of $273 from August 2020 till January 2020, landing cost of imported wheat comes to Rs44 per kg. After adding transportation and packing charges, it costs Rs50 per kg within Karachi and Rs55 per kg for up country destinations, he said.

The private sector was allowed to import 1.5m tonnes in which 1.45m tonnes had arrived, he added.

When asked whether consumers had benefited from thriving wheat imports, Mr Chappal said, “Timely wheat imports at least contained prices, otherwise flour price would have crossed Rs100 per kg.”

Meanwhile, TCP spokesperson said four vessels — MV Eider S, MV LMZ Titan, MV Ince Ine Bolu and MV Nicholas — carrying over 200,000 tonnes of wheat had arrived and were berthed at KPT this month.

Two vessels namely – MV Elbabe and MV Pure Vision – carrying 58,350 and 52,500 tonnes each would take berth at KPT as soon as a deep draught berth at the port becomes available.

Published in Dawn, February 20th, 2021