Islamabad 31 July: Federal Minister for National Food Security, Rana Tanveer Hussain, dismissed reports of a sugar crisis on Thursday, assuring the nation that sugar supplies are stable and prices remain under control.
At a press conference in Islamabad, the minister said claims of a crisis were misleading. “There is no shortage of sugar. Stock levels are sufficient and prices are steady,” he emphasized, clarifying that both sugar import and export are part of regular trade activity, not a sign of market instability.
Despite his assurances, reports from The News highlight severe shortages in Lahore and Islamabad and price hikes in Karachi, Peshawar, and Quetta, where sugar is reportedly selling at up to Rs 190 per kg, well above the official rate.
The minister noted that the Sugar Advisory Board — including federal and provincial officials as well as industry stakeholders — oversees all decisions related to sugar trade. He added that Pakistan had a surplus of 1.3 million metric tonnes of sugar last year, which justified exports.
Tanveer detailed that exports started in October 2024 when global sugar prices were high at $750 per tonne, while local prices were Rs 138 per kg, with an upper cap of Rs 140 set to protect consumers.
READ MORE: Sugar Barons and the Ongoing Crisis in Pakistan’s Sugar Industry
For the current year, sugar production has fallen short, reaching 5.8 million metric tonnes, down from an expected seven million. However, the minister said the shortfall won’t hurt sugarcane farmers and assured that steps are being taken to stabilize the market.
He announced that the government has now fixed a new retail price for
