Pakistan, Feb. 16 -- For most of last year, state authorities did not tire of tooting the horn about a record wheat harvest, which would lead to at least a one million reduction in Pakistan's import needs. On Tuesday, however, the Economic Coordination Committee greenlit a proposal to import wheat submitted by an energetic ministry of commerce in an attempt to bolster the exports of value-added flour.

Considering the thriving case study of Bangladesh whose cotton apparel exports are grasping for the coveted top slot despite being the third largest importer of raw cotton in the world, the fact that Pakistan has finally seen the wisdom in upgrading its capacity to produce better and more expensive exports does call for reluctant celebratio...