Sugar crisis deepens as retailers cut off supply
The sugar crisis in Punjab, including Rawalpindi, has intensified following a deadlock between sugar mills, government authorities, wholesale dealers, brokers, and retail merchants.
The Retail Merchants Association has halted all purchases from sugar mills, issuing directives to retailers to sell off current stock and cease further sugar sales. Retailers with surplus stock have been advised to distribute it to smaller shopkeepers to liquidate inventory.
The association warned of a severe sugar shortage next week, with prices potentially reaching Rs220/kg.
Association leaders Sheikh Rizwan Shaukat and Saleem Pervaiz Butt stated they will not be blackmailed or intimidated.
"Our dignity comes before profit," they said, accusing sugar mill owners of becoming untouchable due to political connections. Retailers claim they cannot sell sugar purchased at Rs176-180 per kg for Rs173 per kg, as enforced by price controls.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Express Tribune
3 days ago
- Express Tribune
Prices continue to soar in open market
A relentless wave of inflation continues to batter the twin cities, with bakery and sweet shops joining the trend by hiking prices. Essential vegetables and groceries are now being sold at exorbitant prices — live chicken at Rs415/kg, chicken meat at Rs650/kg, eggs Rs280/dozen, milk Rs220/litre, and mutton Rs2,500/kg. Fruits and vegetables, including coriander, which was once free with vegetables, now cost Rs80 per bundle. Markets have become hubs of substandard produce while price control officers and assistant commissioners appear helpless in enforcing the official price list. The Punjab government's crackdown on overpriced sugar has shown immediate results as sugar is now available at the official rate of Rs173/kg in Rawalpindi markets. Rate cards featuring Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz's photo have been displayed at all shops. Following the crackdown, fines worth Rs318,000 were imposed within 24 hours. Two FIRs were registered, eight buildings sealed, and 10 people arrested. A total of 150 challans were issued, with 43 violators identified. Shopkeepers claim that the sugar is supplied to them at Rs165/kg ex-mill price, but only two sacks (100kg) per national ID card are available to tax filers. Traders demand easier access and removal of the tax-filer condition to meet market demand. The impact of rising fuel prices, transportation costs, and new heavy taxes has caused a sharp surge in prices of food, fruits, vegetables, pulses, meat, bakery items, and flour in open markets and wholesale bazaars.
Express Tribune
4 days ago
- Express Tribune
Sugar crackdown sours as sweetener price stays high
Despite repeated government crackdowns, stern warnings and price controls, the sugar crisis has deepened across major cities, leaving consumers nationwide scrambling for the essential sweetener. From Karachi to Rawalpindi and Lahore, retail prices have skyrocketed as high as Rs205 per kg, while shopkeepers, fearing fines and raids, have begun refusing sugar sales to unfamiliar customers. A worsening sugar crisis continues to grip Punjab, with prices climbing to as high as Rs205 per kg and a severe shortage reported across major urban centres, including Rawalpindi and Lahore. In Rawalpindi and Islamabad, shopkeepers have stopped selling sugar to walk-in or new customers due to fear of heavy fines, shop closures and arrests by local authorities. According to the Kiryana Merchants Association, the government-mandated ex-mill price of Rs165 per kg was still not being implemented in the open market, where sugar continues to be sold at Rs200 per kg. Meanwhile, retailers complain they are caught between rising wholesale prices and aggressive crackdowns by the district administration. "We have yet to receive sugar at the official ex-mill rate of Rs165 per kg," a spokesperson for the Kiryana Association said, adding that only 1,800 sugar bags were supplied to dealers in the past week, far below demand. The district administration reported that over the past 24 hours alone, 121 shopkeepers were fined for overpricing, with penalties totalling Rs350,000. Eight shops were sealed and five shopkeepers were arrested. Meanwhile, in Lahore and other parts of Punjab, sugar prices have surged well beyond the official rate of Rs173 per kg. In many areas, sugar is now being sold between Rs200 and Rs205 per kg. Mill owners, sugar dealers and retailers are pointing fingers at one another over soaring prices and hoarding, even as all three appear to be benefiting, while ordinary consumers scramble to find sugar at official rates.
Business Recorder
4 days ago
- Business Recorder
Operation against sugar profiteers intensified
LAHORE: The Lahore district administration on Saturday intensified its crackdown on sugar profiteers, ensuring the essential commodity is available at regulated prices for the city's residents. According to the administration, the Assistant Commissioners, SDOs from the Punjab Enforcement and Regulatory Authority (PERA), and Price Control Magistrates have been actively monitoring markets to enforce compliance with fixed rates. The administration's zero-tolerance policy has led to significant actions, including fines imposed on multiple shopkeepers and the sealing of one shop found selling sugar at Rs190 per kg, with a case registered against its owner. To address complaints of sugar shortages in Baghbanpura, the administration swiftly supplied 36 tonnes of sugar to stabilise availability. Commenting on the crackdown, Deputy Commissioner Syed Musa Raza said that sugar would be sold at Rs173 per kg across Lahore, reinforcing the administration's commitment to preventing exploitation through inflated prices. 'The ongoing crackdown targets profiteers and hoarders, with strict penalties for violations. To facilitate reporting, the administration has established a dedicated control room number (0307-0002345) and encouraged residents to use social media platforms to lodge complaints about overpricing,' he added. He made it clear that exploitation under the guise of business will not be tolerated, and the administration is working tirelessly to ensure the availability of essential goods at fair prices. 'These efforts reflect the administration's dedication to protecting Lahore's residents from unfair trade practices, fostering a stable and equitable market environment through proactive enforcement and vigilant oversight,' he added. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
