ISLAMABAD: A meeting on the sugar sector was held under the chairmanship of Federal Minister Rana Tanveer Hussain, during which critical decisions were made to address the ongoing sugar crisis in Pakistan.
During the meeting, the Pakistan Sugar Mills Association (PSMA) raised concerns from mill owners. Responding to these, Minister Rana Tanveer directed the formation of a complaints committee and a dedicated WhatsApp group to streamline communication and resolve issues swiftly.
He emphasized that strict monitoring of sugar stocks would be conducted and that problems in the sugar sector would be resolved on a daily basis.
Rana Tanveer declared that there would be no compromise on the pricing and availability of sugar, and stern action would be taken against those found responsible for creating or contributing to the sugar shortage.
He assured that the government would protect the interests of both consumers and industry, and that violators would be dealt with immediately.
Despite the government’s decision to fix the ex-mill price of sugar at Rs. 165 per kg and the retail price at Rs. 173 per kg, affordable sugar remains out of reach for the public.
In Lahore and Islamabad, sugar has virtually disappeared from markets, with dealers halting operations due to supply issues. Wholesalers report that mills are not supplying sugar at the official rate.
Across most cities, wholesalers are unable to procure sugar at government-fixed prices, making it impossible for retailers to sell it at those rates. As a result, household consumers are also unable to access sugar at official prices.
