Islamabad : The Pakistan Sugar Mills Association (PSMA) has once again presented fake statistics to make its case for export of at least 0.5 million tons of sugar. The PSMA claimed in a recent letter addressed to the federal government that the industry possesses 0,7 million tons surplus sugar and the government can earn around $ 500 million by exporting surplus stocks.
The PSMA self-claimed chief, Zaka Ashraf, repeated the same tale in a press release issued to the media on May 31, 2026. Zaka Ashraf gave fudged figures in the latest press release to make the case before the federal government to get permission to export 0,5 million ton sugar. The claim made by. self- claimed chairman , Zaka Ashraf , are self explanatory. The PSMA press release claimed 0.7 million tons of sugar are surplus and the government should grant permission for export of 0.5 million tons sugar to help the industry have working capital for timely payments to the growers. The PSMA press release itself contradicts the claims made by Mr Zaka Ashraf . His claim that after exporting 0.5 million tons of sugar the remaining 0.2 million tons will be available for meeting local consumption for one month. Pakistan’s local consumption of sugar per month stands around at 0.6 million tons.
The PSMA consumption data itself confirm lifting of 0.560 million tons sugar per month between December 2025 and April 2026. PSMA self- claimed chief’s mischievous statement that 0.2 million tons sugar will be enough to meet local consumption for one month indicates bad intention of PSMA for seeking permission from the government to export sugar. PSMA production figures suggest that Pakistan’s total sugar production in the last crushing season was 7.55 million tons. A PSMA monthly report shared with this correspondent by a source suggested that Pakistan’s local consumption between December 2025 and April 2026 stands at 2.6 million. For the same calculations, Pakistan requires 4 million tons sugar for remaining 7 months of the current sugar year, Pakistan’s sugar year begins from December and ends in November.
According to PSMA reports, factually there is no extra sugar in Pakistan for export. PSMA intentionally presented fudged sugar stocks to misguide the federal government to secure permission for export of 0.5 million tons of sugar.
PSMA is playing a dirty game by demanding export of sugar when there is no surplus stocks. PSMA wants to repeat the plan of 2022 when on the basis of fudged figures. It exported 0.450 million tons sugar in 2023 and it ended up at a crisis in the country . The sugar retail price jumped up to Rs 200 a kg , the government had to import sugar to control its rates in the local market.
PSMA is basically working on the same plan. Its repeated calls to the government has the same modus operandi. Through its call for export, PSMA is looking for an opportunity to create panic in the local market and make undue profit on the stocks. The federal government should dig out the conspiracy hatched by PSMA in its demand for export of sugar. Pakistan also need to take into account as to why India banned sugar export and take a decision in this case in the best national interest.
