ISLAMABAD: Auditor General of Pakistan (AGP) has claimed in his report submitted to the federal government on Tuesday that ill-timed sugar export fuelled the commodity prices that later created its shortage in the domestic market.
The AGP report also held the inter- ministerial committee responsible of irresponsible behaviour that in its opinion contributed to push up the commodity prices to the highest level in the local market.
The AGP report maintained had the inter- ministerial committee reacted timely to stop export of sugar, its prices could not have touched all time high level in domestic market in 2019.
The report said two main factors played a key role to create sugar crisis in the country in 2019.
First, the decision to allow sugar export when its stocks did not favour for such a decision that created panic in the local market.
It said “The decision -makers should have better idea of impact of sugar export on the domestic market”.
Second, the inter- ministerial committee that was supposed to act to stop sugar export from April 30, 2019 when the commidity prices had started to show upward trend remained illusive on the issue.
The Pakistan Tehreek e Insaf (PTI) government had allowed export of sugar in 2018, keeping in view that the country had surplus stocks and its export could help the millers start crushing season in time
However, things spilled over when the commodity prices started to rise beyond a reasonable level in the local market.
The increase in sugar prices invited severe criticism on PTI government, forcing it to form a fact -finding commission to assess and report where things went wrong and who was responsible for it.
The commission completed its findings and submited report to the federal government .
The report confirmed wrongdoings in the matter and identified its characters which included Jahangir Tareen and Khusro Bukhtiar also.
The matter came into the domain of the prime minister who advised to Jahangir Tareen to leave his party position of secretary general and prove his innocence . This triggered unending infight in the party.
Khusro Bukhtiar , who also figured in the report with Jahangir Tareen, remained ‘safe’. He kept enjoying his position as the federal minister.
Later, the prime minister sent the case to AGP for more investigations who submitted his report to the government on August 10, 2021.