Punjab produced more than 22 million metric tonnes of wheat this year, exceeding the province’s annual consumption requirement by around 5.5 million metric tonnes. “The initiative will play an important role in stabilising flour prices by ensuring a steady supply of wheat to flour mills,” he said. He noted that increasing the volume of releases could help exert greater downward pressure on open-market wheat and flour prices. He said subsidised wheat was currently being supplied mainly to flour mills in divisional headquarters. “The government should continue consulting all stakeholders while formulating wheat-sector policies to ensure stable supplies and affordable flour prices,” he said.