Sugar Prices
ISLAMABAD: PML-N leader Ahsan Iqbal has accused PPP’s Naveed Qamar of causing the recent surge in sugar prices in Pakistan.
In an interview with a private channel, Ahsan Iqbal criticized former federal minister for commerce Naveed Qamar for permitting sugar exports.
He asserted that Naveed Qamar of PPP had approved sugar exports, and he held that the PML-N should not be accountable for the rise in sugar prices since the PDM coalition government had made those decisions.
On the other hand, Naveed Qamar defended his decision to export sugar, citing Pakistan’s surplus sugar as the reason for allowing exports. He emphasized that the sugar crisis would persist until smuggling and hoarding were curtailed.
Earlier, sugar rate in Karachi soared to an all-time high of Rs195 per kg as weekly inflation continued to rise. Retail prices ranged from Rs185 to Rs195 in Karachi, while wholesale rates decreased from Rs180 to Rs178 per kg.
Despite the decline in wholesale prices, retailers maintained higher rates, attributing the situation to an “artificial shortage” created by sugar hoarders and the sugar mafia.
The Ministry of Commerce and Industries clarified that there was no sugar shortage in Pakistan, countering reports of sugar imports from Brazil.
The ministry stated that Pakistan had a sufficient sugar stock of over 2 million metric tons, which would meet the country’s demand until December.
