Islamabad, March 24: Food Security Minister, Rana Tanveer Hussain, asserted that there was no sugar shortage in the country, despite widespread concerns over soaring prices.
Speaking at a press conference, he dismissed reports claiming that sugar was being sold at Rs180 per kilogram.
The minister’s comments came amid rising sugar prices in markets across Pakistan, despite the government’s efforts to control the retail price at Rs130 per kg.
The sugar prices have remained consistently high, often exceeding Rs180 per kg in various markets.
In response to the crisis, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif formed a 10-member committee, led by Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, to negotiate with the Pakistan Sugar Mills Association (PSMA) and address the price hike.
Ishaq Dar’s Price Fixation
Dar had previously stated that the sugar price should be capped at Rs164 per kg. The price surge is largely attributed to the excessive export of sugar, with a total of 700,000 tonnes exported in the past year.
The government has once again instructed the Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) to take action against cartelization and price-fixing in the sugar sector.
Read More: Deputy PM Dar Sets Price Cap for Sugar @ Rs164 per kg
However, previous investigations and regulatory actions have faced challenges due to weak enforcement and ongoing legal disputes.
Minister Hussain reassured the public that the government would not allow the retail price of sugar to exceed Rs164 per kg and that the ex-mill price would not surpass Rs159.
Minister Insists on Rs 164 per Kg Price
He emphasized that strict action would be taken in collaboration with the provinces if anyone attempted to raise prices.
Additionally, Hussain highlighted that the PSMA had set up stalls at the tehsil level during the holy month of Ramadan where sugar was being sold at Rs130 per kg.
Furthermore, sugar was available at Rs153 per kg at Utility Stores across the country.
Sugar consumption is expected to rise slightly to 6.7 million tonnes due to population growth and increased demand from the food processing sector.
Also Read: Sugar Prices Surge to Rs. 180 Per KG in Various Cities
In the last week of February 2025, the Sugar Advisory Board, chaired by Hussain, reported that Pakistan was likely to produce 6.8 million tonnes of sugar in the 2024-25 season.
A small increase from the previous year, while consumption was forecasted at 6.6 million tonnes, with some stock remaining in the supply chain.
To monitor the situation more closely, the government has directed the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and the CCP to gather intelligence reports on the sugar market.
