Wheat Flour Sack Losses: Rs594bn Impact
- The Pakistan Polypropylene Woven Sack Manufacturers Association (PPWSMA) is raising alarms about the use of substandard sacks for packaging wheat flour, a staple food for millions. The association...
- In a letter addressed to the Ministry of Food Security, the PPWSMA emphasized the critical importance of protecting the quality of wheat flour throughout the supply chain.
- The association reiterated its call for the government to immediately enforce SRO 46(I)/2017 across all provinces.
Pakistan faces a potential Rs594 billion loss, as the Pakistan Polypropylene Woven Sack Manufacturers Association (PPWSMA) warns of dire consequences stemming from substandard sacks used for wheat flour packaging. This negligence has been ongoing for seven years, causing critically important product wastage and contamination.The PPWSMA urges immediate enforcement of food-grade packaging standards, citing the critical need to protect the wheat supply chain, especially given the Food and Agriculture Organization’s (FAO) report indicating 11 million Pakistanis are experiencing acute food insecurity. Low-quality packaging leads to the loss of precious wheat flour. The association calls for regular inspections.Read more on this vital issue at News Directory 3. Discover what’s next for food safety and security solutions.
Substandard Sacks Threaten Pakistan’s Wheat Supply, Food Security
Updated June 7, 2025
The Pakistan Polypropylene Woven Sack Manufacturers Association (PPWSMA) is raising alarms about the use of substandard sacks for packaging wheat flour, a staple food for millions. The association estimates that this practice has led to a staggering loss of Rs594 billion over seven years due to wastage and contamination of the product.
In a letter addressed to the Ministry of Food Security, the PPWSMA emphasized the critical importance of protecting the quality of wheat flour throughout the supply chain. they highlighted that low-quality, non-compliant packaging materials cause hundreds of thousands of wheat flour bags to become unusable or damaged during storage and transportation annually.
The association reiterated its call for the government to immediately enforce SRO 46(I)/2017 across all provinces. This regulation aims to ban the use of substandard and non-food-grade sacks for packaging wheat flour, promoting the adoption of certified polypropylene woven sacks that meet international food-grade and safety standards.
PPWSMA Chairman Iskandar Khan noted the price difference between certified polypropylene woven sacks and ordinary sacks is minimal—Rs9 for a 20 kg bag and Rs7 for a 10 kg bag. However, he pointed out that “up to half a kg of wheat flour is lost after passing through the low-quality sacks from filling to the consumer’s kitchen.”
Protecting the quality of essential commodities like wheat flour was not only an economic issue but a matter of public health and national food security, PPWSMA stated.
The PPWSMA also referenced a report by the food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), which indicates that approximately 11 million people in Pakistan are currently facing acute food insecurity. The association is urging the government to enforce the mandatory use of food-grade sacks for all wheat flour distributed in the market.
To ensure compliance, the PPWSMA is calling for regular inspections and the imposition of penalties on parties that fail to meet the quality and certification standards outlined in SRO 46(I)/2017. This action is deemed necessary to uphold food safety and protect consumer rights.
What’s next
The Ministry of National Food Security & Research is expected to respond to the PPWSMA’s concerns and outline measures to enforce the use of food-grade sacks, ensuring a safer and more secure wheat supply for the country.