Sugar shortage persists despite new supply
On Monday, 600 sugar bags were supplied to the Rawalpindi district by local sugar mills at the administration's request. However, the limited stock was rapidly consumed, doing little to alleviate the broader shortage.
With over 18,000 grocery shops operating in the twin cities, the entire shipment was swiftly acquired by wholesale dealers, leaving virtually no supply available for retail consumers. As a result, many grocery outlets across Rawalpindi have exhausted their sugar stock.
In the open market, sugar is currently being sold at Rs210 to Rs220 per kilogram, depending on the area. Despite the severity of the crisis, there remains no coordinated distribution mechanism between sugar mills, brokers, wholesalers, and retail merchants.
High-level meetings held in Lahore and Islamabad on Monday yielded no actionable outcomes.
The wholesale supply of sugar has been suspended for the past 13 days, causing stockouts at most retail stores. Those few shops still holding stock are reportedly selling at Rs210 per kg in central areas and up to Rs220 per kg in surrounding localities.
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Business Recorder
4 days ago
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Sugar price in capital soars to Rs210 per kg
ISLAMABAD: Sugar price in federal capital has reached Rs210 per kg level against government fixed price of Rs170, Business Recorder noted. According to retailers the distributors have stopped supplying sugar to the shopkeepers even at Rs9,000 per bag of 50kg which prior to government permission to the sugar millers was selling at Rs6,000 a year ago, but after attaining export permission and successfully exporting the allowed quantity, the millers gradually started escalating sugar prices and recently in wholesale market it touched Rs9,400 mark. The retail sugar prices after Ramadan 2025 have witnessed a sharp increase and reached from Rs135 per kg to Rs210 per kg mark an increase Rs75 per kg or 55 percent. Shopkeepers said that for a few days, the commodity price after government action came down but consequently owing to supply shortage by the sugar millers, the stockists/distributors also stopped supply of the commodity to the retailers, as a result now prices have touched all time high even on superstores. Business Recorder in April 2024 had mentioned the plan of the sugar industry of taking the ex-mill sugar price to Rs170 per 50 kg bag, saying that sugarcane prices have gone up from Rs350 per 40kg to Rs450. In a meeting of Sugar Advisory Board held on April 2024 'the millers argued that in 2023 sugarcane price was Rs350 per 40kg which now has reached to Rs450 per 40kg and production cost of sugar at present stands at Rs170 per kg while in retail market refined sugar was available in the range of Rs145-150 per kg which is lowest price in the world'. The Pakistan Sugar Mills Association (PSMA) prior to attaining sugar export permission had ensured the government of devising a mechanism where by price stability of sugar will be ensured before exporting surplus stock produced in the country. As per April 2024 SAB's meeting, the provinces and PSMA would ensure smooth supply of commodity in the domestic market and the price stability till start of next crushing season. It was agreed to seek authenticated data on available sugar stocks, including expected sugar production from beet, and recommendations regarding export from provinces before taking any final decision on the export of sugar. The representatives of PSMA informed the government officials that Pakistan at present has around 1.6 million tons of additional sugar which should be exported. The PSMA has asked the government to allow export of one million tons of refined sugar in first phase which will bring around $650-700 million foreign exchange for the country and rest of the 0.6 million tons sugar be exported in two phases in May and June 2024. The PSMA in 2024 also informed the government that if the government did not allow sugar export it will result in the smuggling of the commodity to Iran, Afghanistan and other countries as a result the country will be deprive of the precious foreign exchange while smugglers will take advantage of the situation. According to the officials, locally industrial sector was consuming 85 percent of the sugar while the rest 15 percent was of domestic use. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Express Tribune
4 days ago
- Express Tribune
Sugar shortage persists despite new supply
The ongoing sugar crisis in the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad has seen only marginal improvement, with market instability persisting. On Monday, 600 sugar bags were supplied to the Rawalpindi district by local sugar mills at the administration's request. However, the limited stock was rapidly consumed, doing little to alleviate the broader shortage. With over 18,000 grocery shops operating in the twin cities, the entire shipment was swiftly acquired by wholesale dealers, leaving virtually no supply available for retail consumers. As a result, many grocery outlets across Rawalpindi have exhausted their sugar stock. In the open market, sugar is currently being sold at Rs210 to Rs220 per kilogram, depending on the area. Despite the severity of the crisis, there remains no coordinated distribution mechanism between sugar mills, brokers, wholesalers, and retail merchants. High-level meetings held in Lahore and Islamabad on Monday yielded no actionable outcomes. The wholesale supply of sugar has been suspended for the past 13 days, causing stockouts at most retail stores. Those few shops still holding stock are reportedly selling at Rs210 per kg in central areas and up to Rs220 per kg in surrounding localities.
Express Tribune
5 days ago
- Express Tribune
Sugar crisis deepens across twin cities
In the digital age, there's no excuse for opacity as a transparent digital dashboard that tracks sugar from mills to wholesalers to retailers would make it harder for hoarders and profiteers to operate undetected. Photo: file The ongoing dispute over sugar supply, wholesale pricing, and retailer profits involving sugar mills, brokers, dealers, and district administration has triggered a severe sugar crisis in Rawalpindi and Islamabad. With wholesale supply disrupted, most retailers in the district have run out of stock. Sugar is now being sold at inflated prices of up to Rs220 per kilogram. In response to heavy fines and shop closures by the district administration, many retailers have removed sugar from shelves, with some selling it secretly at higher prices only to known customers. Initial negotiations between the sugar merchant association, the cane commissioner, and FBR have shown some progress. A breakthrough is expected in an upcoming meeting chaired by the federal minister. However, the crisis remains unresolved. Association leaders Rizwan Shaukat and Saleem Pervaiz Butt claim the government set the ex-mill price at Rs165 and allowed an Rs8 profit marginpermitting retail sale at Rs173. But mills are allegedly charging Rs176 per kg, making it unviable for retailers to comply. Rawalpindi Deputy Commissioner Hasan Waqas Cheema said pricing is not a district matter and must follow federal directives. Authorities are strictly enforcing the Rs173 rate, with penalties for violations. In the last 24 hours, 127 violations were reported. Fines totaling Rs145,000 were imposed, five retailers were arrested, and nine shops sealed. District-wise breakdown includes Rawalpindi (2 violations, Rs30,000 fines), Attock (11 violations, Rs8,500), Jhelum (16 violations, Rs30,000), Chakwal (8 violations, Rs22,000), and Murree (90 violations, Rs55,000, 3 arrests). Commissioner Amir Khattak has instructed retailers to ensure sugar availability at government-set prices, display rate lists prominently, and avoid hoarding or artificial shortages.
