Tension Spurs Urgent Wheat Evacuation from Punjab’s Border Districts

• May 9, 2025

Amid escalating tensions between India and Pakistan, the Punjab state government has launched an urgent operation to expedite the evacuation of wheat stocks from six border districts, following the discovery of suspected Pakistani missile debris in Amritsar district.

Fearing possible retaliation after India’s recent precision strikes across the border, the state has directed the Food Corporation of India (FCI) to immediately begin transferring procured wheat from Amritsar, Tarn Taran, Gurdaspur, Pathankot, Ferozepur, and Fazilka.

According to official figures, large quantities of wheat remain unlifted in several districts:

• Tarn Taran: 49% unlifted

• Amritsar: 46% unlifted

• Gurdaspur: 40% unlifted

• Pathankot: 24% unlifted

• Ferozepur: 34% unlifted

• Fazilka: 22% unlifted

Procurement data shows:

• Pathankot: 60,822 metric tonnes

• Gurdaspur: 6.30 lakh metric tonnes (LMT)

• Amritsar: 7.02 LMT

• Tarn Taran: 7.55 LMT

• Ferozepur: 8.56 LMT

• Fazilka: 7.49 LMT

Officials have asked FCI to identify suitable destinations for the wheat and assess rake availability for transportation. "As matters escalate on both sides of the border, securing foodgrain stocks has become a priority," said a senior officer involved in the effort.

Currently, an average of 15 to 16 wheat-laden rakes are dispatched daily from Punjab to recipient states, but authorities are now looking to accelerate this pace in view of the mounting geopolitical risk.