ISLAMABAD: In a decisive move to curb artificial shortages and rising prices, the federal government has taken full control of the country’s sugar reserves and launched strict measures against sugar mill owners. The action comes amid widespread public complaints of a sugar crisis, with retail prices crossing government-set limits and supply chains under scrutiny.
According to the Ministry of National Food Security, the government has seized 1.9 million metric tonnes of sugar from mills across Pakistan. Officials say this action is aimed at stopping hoarding and preventing further price manipulation.
Media reports, citing ministry officials, reveal that the names of 18 sugar mill owners have been placed on the Exit Control List (ECL). The list is expected to be made public in the coming days.
To strengthen monitoring, agents from the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) have been deployed at all sugar mills, and a digital track-and-trace system has been installed to monitor stock movements.
Officials said these steps were necessary due to concerns over an artificial sugar shortage and the risk of price escalation in the local market.
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Despite the crackdown, Federal Minister for National Food Security Rana Tanveer Hussain denied that a sugar crisis exists. He claimed that sugar imports and exports are routine matters and that negative perceptions are often created unnecessarily.
The minister explained that the government had approved sugar exports in October 2024 with the condition that local prices would not exceed Rs140 per kilogram. He noted that the crushing season began within 20 days of the export approval.
However, despite the official ex-mill price of Rs165 per kg and the retail price of Rs173 per kg, sugar remains unavailable at these rates in the market, raising concerns over implementation and enforcement.
