ISLAMABAD (Kashmir English): The Cabinet Committee on Sugar Exports met under the chairmanship of Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar and finalized the modalities for exporting 200,000 metric tons of sugar.
The meeting also approved the formation of a monitoring committee to oversee sugar prices regularly.
The Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister directed the relevant ministries to expedite the export process by promptly resolving all pending matters; the aim is to support the sugar industry and sugarcane farmers, boost foreign exchange earnings, and ensure the protection of domestic consumers’ interests.
The meeting was attended by the Minister for National Food Security, the Minister for Climate Change, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Tariq Bajwa, the Secretary of Commerce, and the Secretary of National Food Security and Research, alongside other relevant officials and stakeholders from federal and provincial departments.
Govt decides to export 108,000 tonnes of imported sugar
The federal government has decided to export 108,000 metric tonnes of imported sugar, Federal Minister for National Food Security Rana Tanveer said.
He said the export will not raise sugar prices in the local market and that Pakistan still has enough sugar reserves to cover the domestic demand without any major fuss.
At the same time, he added that international sugar rates have improved, so the government wants to nudge part of the stock out into the global arena.
Rana Tanveer further said that the government can secure a better price by exporting the sugar. He also claimed this step will not cause any shortage in the domestic market. It’s like nothing to worry about, as per his point of view.
But Awam Pakistan Party leader Miftah Ismail criticised the government’s sugar policy. Miftah said the government first exported sugar, then created an artificial shortage, and after that imported even more sugar than the country actually needed.
Now he said the government is planning to export the imported sugar again. He questioned the plan and argued that in the end, ordinary buyers and consumers have to pay the price.
The government, though, insists that enough sugar will remain available for local consumers. It also expects the export to bring better returns because international prices are higher now.
