Punjab Wheat Blockade Sparks Pathan Backlash in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

A deepening interprovincial crisis has erupted in Pakistan after the PMLN-led Punjab government, headed by Maryam Nawaz, blocked wheat supplies to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), sparking anger and retaliation threats from traders in the Pathan-majority province. The move has caused widespread flour shortages, forcing nearly 90% of KP’s flour mills to shut down amid skyrocketing prices and public outrage.

According to reports in The Dawn, the blockade has crippled the flour industry in KP, where naan bakeries and tandoors are on the verge of closure. Flour prices have soared sharply, with a 20-kilogram bag selling between Rs 2,500 and Rs 2,900, while chakki flour is now priced at Rs 150 per kilogram. The steep rise has left ordinary citizens struggling to afford basic food essentials.

In a strong reaction, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Flour Dealers Association held a press conference in Peshawar, condemning the Punjab government’s move as an “economic blockade.” The association warned that it would halt the movement of mineral-laden trucks from KP to Punjab unless the wheat supply is restored. “Even animal feed has not been spared,” said Akram Shah, an office-bearer, referring to Punjab’s ban on wheat bran exports.

The crisis has intensified long-standing grievances between Pakistan’s provinces. KP traders and activists accused Maryam Nawaz of playing the “Punjab card” — exploiting her province’s dominance over the nation’s economy, military, and politics to marginalise smaller regions. Protest rallies erupted in Peshawar, where speakers warned that the blockade could “destabilise the federation” and deepen ethnic fault lines.

“The federation cannot survive if one province behaves like a hegemon,” said one protest leader, urging the federal government to intervene.

Despite the backlash, the Punjab government has not issued an official statement on the wheat restrictions. The blockade comes amid heightened border clashes between Pakistan and Afghanistan, further complicating the economic and political situation in KP — a province with strong Pashtun ethnic and cultural ties to communities across the border.

The continuing standoff reflects Pakistan’s internal fragility. Analysts warn that the flour blockade could widen ethnic and economic rifts within the country, undermining already strained relations between the centre and the provinces. With food security at risk and political tempers flaring, the confrontation over wheat may soon test the very cohesion of Pakistan’s federation.