LAHORE: Within hours. after announcement of ‘historic relief package’ by prime minister, Imran Khan, sugar crisis has taken turn for worse . One kg sugar which was available at Rs 125 on Wednesday went- up to Rs 145 per kg in whole sale market on Thursday.
This is highest ever sugar rate in Pakistan’s history of 74 years
In some cities including Islamabad and Rawalpindi the dealers have stopped to sell sugar stocks .
Traders accused the dealers of hoarding sugar stocks.
Chaudhary Saleem , an Islamabad-based trader told this correspondent that sugar was being sold in black at Rs 145 per kg and the commodity was not even available at Rs 145 a kg.
“There ia no sugar available in whole sale market of twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi at any rate”, Chaudhary Saleem said.
The surge in sugar rates soon after the prime minister’s announcement of relief package has shocked every one.
Meanwhile, Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PMLN) president, Shahbaz Sharif, has claimed in his media statement that the country was left with only 5 days sugar stocks.
The roaring crisis of sugar confirms Shahbaz Sharif’s claim about available stock of sugar.
Interestingly, noone from the government spoke on the sugar crisis on Thursday.
Pakistan’s last year sugar production was around 4.9 million ton against demand of around 5.5 million ton. The production figures showed a shortfall of over 0.5 million ton, but the government policy- makers never took sugar shortage seriously.
Talking to NEWSMAN on the sugar situation in the country, Pakistan Sugar Mills Association (PSMA) Khyber Pukhtunkhaw (KPK), Iskander Khan, claimed the association had made a fair assessment of the stocks position soon after the end of the crushing season 2020-21 and conveyed to the government that it should import 0.5 million ton sugar to avoid any possible sugar crisis, but this call went un-noticed.
“Had the government taken our call seriously, it would have enough stock today to stop hype in sugar prices”, Iskander Khan concluded.
Its not sugar only. The government preferred to follow wait and see till things spill out of control like wheat and some other commodities. The people are basically paying for the government’s indecisiveness and incompetence.
