Amidst the nationwide sugar crisis, two major political parties, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), both of which were part of the previous coalition government led by Shehbaz Sharif, engaged in a blame game regarding the alarming surge in prices throughout the country. As consumers grapple with soaring costs, the blame is tossed back and forth.
Former Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal blamed former Commerce Minister and PPP leader Naveed Qamar for the current crisis. He asserted that Qamar should be held accountable for the ongoing crisis. He claimed that it was his decision that led to the current sugar crisis. Iqbal stressed the need for Qamar to clarify his stance on the current crisis. He emphasized that the PML-N should not be held responsible for every decision made by the coalition government.
Responding to the blame, Naveed Qamar defended himself against the allegations. He argued that the decision was made collectively by the Economic Coordination Committee and approved by the cabinet. He revealed that there was an excess stock of sugar, three times more than the amount allowed for export. Qamar emphasized that the responsibility did not solely rest with the commerce ministry, as the decision had been approved by both the ECC and the cabinet.
The PPP’s official media group also released a tweet by Senator Taj Haider, who stated that Naveed Qamar had authorized sugar exports to assist the then Finance Minister Ishaq Dar in acquiring foreign exchange. Haider alleged that former Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah permitted sugar smuggling, resulting in profits for smugglers. Haider pointed out that while smugglers earned dollars, Ahsan Iqbal was solely blaming Qamar for the crisis.
