
Govt, sugar mills agree on Rs165/kg ex-mill price
Federal Minister for National Food Security & Research, Rana Tanveer Hussain, chaired a high-level meeting today with the Pakistan Sugar Mills Association (PSMA) to address the implementation of the government-notified ex-mill price of sugar and ensure its smooth availability in the market. According to an official statement released on Tuesday, the meeting was attended by the chairman and senior members of PSMA, along with senior officials of the ministry.
During the meeting, detailed deliberations were held on the enforcement of the ex-mill sugar price and steps needed to ensure immediate and uninterrupted supply of sugar across the country. As per the statement, the association appreciated the government's decision and assured its full cooperation in stabilising prices.
The PSMA agreed to supply sugar at the ex-mill price of Rs165 per kg. It was mutually agreed that the impact of the price reduction would start reflecting in the retail market within the next two to three days.
Speaking on the occasion, Federal Minister Rana Tanveer Hussain stated, "The government is fully committed to providing relief to the public. All possible measures are being taken to ensure the availability of sugar at affordable prices." He further emphasised that strict implementation of the retail price will be ensured and hoarding or profiteering will not be tolerated.
The minister highlighted that an effective mechanism has been devised to curb artificial price hikes and ensure consistent supply. He reiterated that public interest remains the top priority of the government and that the ministry will continue to work in close coordination with the sugar industry to maintain price stability, reads the statement.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Business Recorder
a day ago
- Business Recorder
Sugar cartelisation case hearing rescheduled on mills' request
The Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) has rescheduled the rehearing of the cartelisation case against the Pakistan Sugar Mills Association (PSMA) and its member mills, following requests from their legal counsels. The hearings, initially fixed for August 4-7, will now take place from September 22-25, 2025. Over 70 sugar mills requested postponement of hearing, the CCP said in a press release. The adjournment was sought on grounds that over 50 mills have filed appeals against the Competition Appellate Tribunal (CAT) order in the Supreme Court, while others cited unavailability of legal representatives due to the Supreme Court's summer recess. While the CCP had scheduled day-to-day hearings in line with the directions of the CAT, it has allowed a one-time postponement in the interest of fairness and to ensure due opportunity for all parties to present their case. The commission will not entertain further delays, and in case of non-appearance or repeated adjournment requests, ex-parte proceedings may be initiated. Notices issued to sugar mills for rehearing in cartelisation case The proceedings pertain to show cause notices issued in November 2020 to PSMA and its member mills for alleged cartelisation and anti-competitive conduct. Hearing notices were most recently issued on July 9 in compliance with CAT's May 21 order, which directed the commission to rehear the matter before a member or chairperson not part of the original bench. Rs44bn penalty on sugar mills: CAT remands case to CCP for rehearing It may be recalled that in 2021, the CCP had imposed a penalty of Rs44 billion on PSMA and its member mills for cartelisation. The order was later set aside by the tribunal, which held that the casting vote exercised by the then chairperson in a 2-2 deadlock was not permissible under the Competition Act, 2010 in quasi-judicial proceedings. CCP 'unearths' sugar cartel CCP 'unearthed' a cartel in the sugar industry through an extensive enquiry in October 2020, which concluded that the Pakistan Sugar Mills Association (PSMA) has been acting as a front runner for cartelisation in the sugar industry since 2010. The CCP's enquiry report concluded, while determining the causes behind the sugar shortage/crisis and price hike, that the sugar mills were using the PSMA platform to take a collective decision to use exports as a means of sustaining or controlling prices or 'keeping it stable'. The enquiry has concluded that the hike in sugar prices appears to be the direct result of misreporting in sugar stock positions (of which PSMA was aware of) that led to a decision to delay sugar imports. The enquiry report observed that the decision not to import in a timely manner caused a rise in sugar prices between, July to September 2020 by Rs11.6 per kg. Report accuses sugar millers of acting like cartel The CCP has the evidence that indicates that in 2019 only, the domestic price of sugar hiked by Rs18/kg due to the commodity's export, while the sugar barons made an additional gain of Rs40 billion in revenue in addition to payment of Rs29.22 billion as subsidy to them. The enquiry report said that evidence gathered during raids on the premises of the PSMA and the JDW Sugar Mills seems to suggest these anti-competitive activities have continued since 2010.


Business Recorder
2 days ago
- Business Recorder
Sugar cartelisation case hearing postponed on mills' request
The Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) has postponed and rescheduled the hearing of sugar cartelisation case to September 22–25, on request of sugar mills. Over 70 sugar mills had requested the postponement of the hearing, the CCP said in a press release. In their adjournment requests, they stated they would not be able to appear due to Supreme Court holidays. More than 50 mills have also filed appeals in the Supreme Court against the Competition Appellate Tribunal (CAT)'s decision. The competition commission said that the hearing is being postponed once to fulfill the exigencies for justice. However, no further delay or adjournment will be granted, it maintained. The case will be heard on a daily basis, the commission added. Earlier, the tribunal had ordered the CCP to rehear the case. CCP issued notices to the Pakistan Sugar Mills Association (PSMA) on July 9 and its member sugar mills to appear for a hearing in the matter of show cause notices issued to the PSMA and member mills in November 2020 for alleged cartelisation and anti-competitive conduct. The proceedings were scheduled for August 4, 5, 6 and 7, 2025. 'The hearing notices have been issued in compliance with the May 21, 2025 order of the Competition Appellate Tribunal (CAT), which directed the matter to be reheard by the Chairperson or Member of the Commission who was not part of the earlier conflicting opinions. The Tribunal further directed that the matter be decided preferably within 90 days,' the CCP statement read. In 2021, the CCP had imposed a penalty of nearly Rs44 billion on PSMA and its member mills for violating competition laws. The order, however, was challenged in the CAT, which questioned the legality of the casting vote exercised by the then chairperson to break a 2-2 deadlock in the original four-member bench. 'The tribunal held that no casting vote could be exercised in quasi-judicial proceedings under the Competition Act, 2010, and set aside the resulting order. 'Through the current notices, CCP has directed all concerned parties to nominate authorized representatives and appear with all relevant facts and material for the rehearing,' the CCP said. CCP 'unearths' sugar cartel CCP 'unearthed' a cartel in the sugar industry through an extensive enquiry in October 2020, which concluded that the Pakistan Sugar Mills Association (PSMA) has been acting as a front runner for cartelisation in the sugar industry since 2010. The CCP's enquiry report concluded, while determining the causes behind the sugar shortage/crisis and price hike, that the sugar mills were using the PSMA platform to take a collective decision to use exports as a means of sustaining or controlling prices or 'keeping it stable'. The enquiry has concluded that the hike in sugar prices appears to be the direct result of misreporting in sugar stock positions (of which PSMA was aware of) that led to a decision to delay sugar imports. The enquiry report observed that the decision not to import in a timely manner caused a rise in sugar prices between, July to September 2020 by Rs11.6 per kg. The CCP has the evidence that indicates that in 2019 only, the domestic price of sugar hiked by Rs18/kg due to the commodity's export, while the sugar barons made an additional gain of Rs40 billion in revenue in addition to payment of Rs29.22 billion as subsidy to them. The enquiry report said that evidence gathered during raids on the premises of the PSMA and the JDW Sugar Mills seems to suggest these anti-competitive activities have continued since 2010.


Express Tribune
2 days ago
- Express Tribune
CCP to hear sugar pricing case today
The Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) is set to begin hearings today (Monday) in a case related to alleged collusion in sugar pricing. The commission issued notices to the Pakistan Sugar Mills Association (PSMA) and its member mills after the case was sent back for rehearing by the Competition Appellate Tribunal. The CCP has scheduled hearings in the sugar cartelization case for August 4, 5, 6, and 7, directing all concerned parties to nominate their representatives and ensure their availability on the designated dates, along with all relevant evidence and documentation. Earlier in May, the Competition Appellate Tribunal had returned the case to the CCP for rehearing after announcing its verdict on the appeals filed by the sugar mills and the association against a Rs44b fine. The tribunal instructed that the case be reheard under the supervision of the CCP chairperson or any other member who was not previously involved in the hearings. The tribunal also ordered the commission to complete the rehearing and issue a verdict within 90 days. In 2021, the CCP had imposed a Rs44 billion fine on the PSMA and its member mills for forming a cartel to fix sugar prices and engaging in other anti-competitive practices.