ISLAMABAD: The Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) has postponed a critical hearing in the high-profile sugar price-fixing case after sugar mill owners requested an adjournment, citing the unavailability of their legal teams due to Supreme Court vacations.
Originally scheduled for this week, the hearing involved over 70 sugar mills summoned on charges of cartelization and price manipulation—practices blamed for artificially inflating sugar prices and burdening consumers.
The CCP has rescheduled the hearing for September 22 to 25, warning this will be the final adjournment granted in the interest of justice. Once proceedings resume, the commission said, hearings will be held daily without any further delays.
More than 50 sugar mills have also filed appeals in the Supreme Court against a prior ruling by the Competition Appellate Tribunal, further stalling progress on the case.
Allegations of Cartelization and Political Influence
The case centers on alleged collusion among sugar producers to fix prices, contributing to recurring sugar price hikes and economic pressure on the public. Civil society groups and market watchdogs have long called for transparency and accountability in the industry.
A letter submitted to the Chief Justice of Pakistan by the Tehreek Tahafuz-e-Aain Pakistan has requested that the sugar scandal be referred to a three-member judicial committee and an independent inquiry commission. Signatories of the letter include prominent political figures such as Mehmood Khan Achakzai, Allama Nasir Abbas, Asad Qaiser, and Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar.
The letter alleges billions have been looted from the public through sugar price manipulation while accountability bodies remained passive. It also points to conflicts of interest, accusing influential political families of holding indirect stakes in sugar mills and leveraging power to protect their business interests.
Market Snapshot: Sugar Prices Continue to Rise
- In Lahore’s Akbari Mandi, sugar prices rose by Rs1 per kg, now selling at Rs171 per kg, slightly above the official rate of Rs170. Dealers reportedly raised prices without any formal notification.
- In Karachi’s Jodia Bazaar, sugar from only one mill is being sold at the official ex-mill rate of Rs165 per kg. Sugar from other mills remains unavailable at government-notified prices.
- Wholesale prices in Sindh remain at Rs170 per kg, with retailers claiming they must sell at Rs175 per kg due to overhead costs.
- Shopkeepers are being restricted to a maximum of 10 sugar bags per outlet, limiting market access and raising concerns over hoarding and supply manipulation.
Despite official pricing controls, consumers across Pakistan continue to face mounting costs for essential commodities, with the sugar industry at the center of growing public outrage.
