Sindh cabinet approves farmer reform law
The Sindh cabinet has approved the Sindh Farmers Agricultural Collectives Act, 2026, and ordered action against wheat hoarding. It also considered digitisation of wheat management and reviewed a range of other provincial measures.
KARACHI: The Sindh cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, has approved the Sindh Farmers Agricultural Collectives Act, 2026, alongside a set of decisions covering wheat market oversight, digitisation of the Food Department and a wider range of governance and development matters.
According to the decisions reviewed in the meeting, the proposed law is aimed at enabling small farmers, livestock owners and fishermen to pool land, resources and agricultural machinery, improve access to financing and modern technology, and reach more profitable markets. The framework also includes representation for women and transgender persons, as well as provisions for transparent profit-sharing and participation in carbon credit and environmental service markets.
Wheat hoarding and Food Department reforms
The cabinet also cleared action against wheat hoarding after concerns were raised over increasing flour prices. During the meeting, the Food Department informed the cabinet that substantial wheat stocks were being held by flour mills, traders and private hoarders, a situation it linked to speculation and rising prices.
As part of the response, the cabinet considered the establishment of an Integrated Wheat Management System to digitise wheat procurement, storage, transportation and distribution. The chief minister directed the Food Department to speed up the process and improve transparency in the system.
Other matters before the cabinet
The cabinet also reviewed the draft National Wheat Policy 2026-2030 and approved several additional measures. These related to agriculture, inclusive education, prison security, revenue reforms, infrastructure development, welfare for Rescue 1122 personnel, fisheries monitoring and the extension of Pakistan Rangers' deployment in Sindh.
The package of decisions placed agriculture and market regulation alongside administrative reforms and public service matters, with the newly approved farmer collectives law presented as a key step for smaller producers in the province.
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