Pakistan, May 22 -- Minister for Law and Justice, Azam Nazeer Tarar on Thursday rejected claims of a four million-ton wheat shortfall in the country and informed the Senate that sufficient wheat stocks were available to meet domestic needs.

Responding to a point of order raised by Senator Aon Abbas, the minister challenged the opposition to present documented evidence supporting the claim of a major wheat shortage.

He said he had personally consulted Minister for National Food Security, Rana Tanveer Hussain before addressing the House and confirmed that no such shortfall existed.

Azam Tarar said wheat deregulation, introduced last year, had initially disturbed market prices, with wheat selling between Rs 2,500 and Rs 3,000 per maund in...