Maps
Magazine

TRADE & ECONOMY

Govt Assures No Sugar Shortage, Vows Action Against Price Hike
Minister Rana Tanveer Hussain denies sugar shortage, assures retail price won't exceed Rs164/kg. Govt forms a 10-member committee to tackle rising rates.
ND
by News Desk
2025-03-24
Govt Assures No Sugar Shortage, Vows Action Against Price Hike

National Food Security and Research Minister Rana Tanveer Hussain assured on Monday that there was no shortage of sugar in Pakistan, despite market prices soaring beyond government-set rates. His remarks came during a press conference reported by state-owned Radio Pakistan.

Hussain rejected claims that sugar was being sold at Rs180 per kilogramme, contradicting ground reports from various markets. Despite government efforts to maintain retail prices at Rs130 per kg, the commodity continues to be sold at higher rates across the country.

Government Response to Price Surge

To tackle the crisis, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has formed a 10-member committee led by Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar. The committee has been tasked with engaging the Pakistan Sugar Mills Association (PSMA) to negotiate price reductions.

Ishaq Dar announced that sugar prices should be capped at Rs164 per kg, attributing the recent spike to excessive sugar exports in the past year, which reached 700,000 tonnes. Pakistan’s sugar consumption is projected to rise to 6.7 million tonnes due to increasing population and demand from the food processing industry.

Sugar Production and Market Regulation

During the Sugar Advisory Board meeting in February 2025, officials revealed that the country is expected to produce 6.8 million tonnes of sugar in the 2024-25 season, slightly exceeding the estimated consumption of 6.6 million tonnes.

To ensure fair pricing, the government has directed the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and the Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) to investigate price manipulation and cartelization in the sugar sector. However, past attempts to curb anti-competitive practices have faced enforcement challenges and legal hurdles.

Govt’s Price Control Measures

Minister Hussain assured that sugar prices would not exceed Rs164 per kg, while ex-mill rates would remain below Rs159. He warned of strict action against any attempt to manipulate prices, emphasizing collaboration with provincial authorities to curb inflationary pressures.

Meanwhile, PSMA has set up stalls at tehsil levels during Ramazan, offering sugar at Rs130 per kg. Additionally, the commodity is available at Rs153 per kg at Utility Stores.

The government remains firm in its stance to stabilize sugar prices and ensure affordability for consumers.
Tagged:

Pakistan

inflation

SugarPrices

economiccrisis

FoodSecurity

SugarCrisis

GovtAction
Share News: