WEBDESK (Azaad English): Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has ordered strict action against those hoarding sugar and creating an artificial shortage, which has led to a sharp rise in prices across Pakistan. Chairing a high-level meeting, he directed officials to launch a crackdown on hoarders and profiteers, ensuring that sugar remains available at government-fixed prices.
PM Shehbaz declared through the meeting that stockpiling activities along with price manipulation would face harsh consequences since Ramazan had begun. The authorities received directives from him to track all sugar supply and demand in order to maintain transparent distribution practices. Shehbaz demanded better government-sugar mill coordination to stop untimely price surges in the marketplace.
“Those responsible for creating an artificial sugar crisis should be dealt with strictly according to the law,” the PM said. “The mafia will not be allowed to exploit the common people.”
The PM directed the chief secretaries of all four provinces to ensure sugar is available at fixed rates in markets across Pakistan. He also asked for a detailed report on the actions taken against hoarders after the crackdown is carried out.
Most retail stores sold sugar for Rs156-160 per kilogram at the start of the fasting month. The current market value of sugar stands at Rs180-185 per kilogram for open sales while wholesale cost Rs160-165 per kilogram.
Both makeshift outlets and Utility Stores sell sugar at discounted rates of Rs130 per kilogram and Rs153 per kilogram but these prices remain insufficient to meet the full market demand.
The rising sugar costs affect all major cities throughout Pakistan at present. The sugar retail price in Quetta exceeded Rs180 per kilogram after a Rs15 increase from its previous value which corresponds to wholesale prices that currently reach Rs175 per kilogram. The market value of sugar rose Rs170 per kilogram in both Lahore and Peshawar after increasing by Rs10 per kilogram since the beginning. Sugar commodities in Karachi have moved from their previous price of Rs145 per kilogram before Ramazan to achieve wholesale values of Rs168 per kilogram and retail rates of Rs180 per kilogram.
