Islamabad: Pakistan's Minister for National Food Security and Research Tariq Bashir Cheema has said the country is enduring a net wheat deficit of 2.37 million metric tons (MMT) during the current year.

In a written reply to the question of Senator Zeeshan Khanzada during question hour in the upper house of parliament, he said the deficit has been estimated after the re-verification of carry-forward stocks and total existing stock position, The News International reported.

He said the total wheat available in the country this year was 28.42 MMT, the wheat production was 26.389 mmt while carry forward stock was 2.031 MMT.

Similarly, the national requirements were 30.79 MMT and thus net shortfall was 2.37 MMT.