Latest news with #SaleemPervaizButt
Express Tribune
28-07-2025
- Business
- 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.
Express Tribune
21-07-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
Sugar crisis deepens as retailers cut off supply
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 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.
Express Tribune
29-06-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
Merchants threaten sugar sales halt
The Central Grocery Merchants Association has sent a formal letter of protest to the federal government over the worsening sugar crisis, criticising its pricing policies and threatening to suspend sugar sales if wholesale prices continue to rise unchecked. Association Secretary General Rizwan Shaukat and Patron-in-Chief Saleem Pervaiz Butt stated that the price of a 50kg sugar sack in the wholesale market is increasing by Rs100 every other day. Sugar is now being sold at Rs174-177 per kg wholesale and has reached Rs190 per kg in retail markets. If prices continue to rise, it is expected to hit Rs200 per kg soon. Meanwhile, district authorities are pressuring retailers to sell sugar at Rs. 164 per kgan unfeasible demand, according to the association. They emphasised that wholesale sugar costs Rs177 per kg, and additional costs for transportation, loading/unloading, and packaging add up to Rs13 per kg.
Express Tribune
20-06-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
Traders announce halting sugar sales over govt failure
The Karyana Merchant Association Punjab has strongly condemned the continued and devastating rise in sugar prices, attributing the crisis to the government's complete failure to intervene. In response, the association has announced a province-wide halt in sugar sales at all grocery stores and has appealed to the public across the country to boycott sugar and instead use alternatives such as jaggery (gur) and unrefined sugar (shakkar). The association described the control of sugar prices as "extremely difficult," noting that in the open market, sugar prices have surged to Rs190 per kg in urban areas and up to Rs200 per kg in suburban and rural regions. According to Sheikh Rizwan Shaukat, the central general secretary of the Karyana Merchant Association, and Saleem Pervaiz Butt, the president of the Rawalpindi Division, both the federal and Punjab governments have proven utterly powerless and ineffective in curbing sugar prices. Wholesale sugar prices are increasing daily by Rs100 to Rs300 per bag. They alleged that a powerful sugar mafia is exploiting the nation while small grocery shop owners are being unfairly targeted through fines and legal action. They further criticised the inconsistent sugar policies — allowing export at one time and import at another — as mechanisms for profiteering. Despite repeated meetings with senior officials and ministers over the past two months to alert them to the exploitation occurring in the name of sugar, the authorities have failed to take any effective action. Now, the association says, they are left with no other option but to halt sugar sales altogether to avoid heavy fines, penalties, and arrests.
Express Tribune
06-03-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
Sugar crisis worsens in Pindi
The sugar crisis further worsened in the twin cities on the fifth Ramazan on Thursday, prompting the Kiryana Merchants Association to announce a suspension of sugar sales starting today (Friday). Sugar completely vanished from government-subsidised bazaars and stalls and was sold at Rs170 per kilogramme in the open market on Wednesday, raising questions about the district administration's price control measures during the holy month of Ramzan. The association's president, Saleem Pervaiz Butt, said that retailers cannot buy sugar at Rs163 per kg and sell it at Rs164 per kg, as their transportation, packaging, loading, and labour costs amount to Rs10 per kg. He demanded a profit margin of at least Rs10 per kg for retailers, outright rejecting the government-mandated price of Rs164 per kg. Butt further highlighted that sugar prices are rising daily, with the price of a sugar sack increasing regularly. Rawalpindi Deputy Commissioner (DC) Hassan Waqar Cheema has warned shopkeepers that selling sugar above Rs164 per kg will result in store closures, legal action, and arrests. Faced with these restrictions, retailers have no choice but to halt sugar sales, the association's office-bearer said and added that instructions have been issued across all divisions, and starting Friday, sugar will be completely removed from store shelves. The Kiryana Merchants Association also pointed out that before this, the Poultry Retailers Union and the Mutton and Beef Retailers Union had also gone on strike due to government-fixed prices. The association urged the government to set sugar, meat, and poultry prices in line with market supply. Despite passing five days, the price control magistrates appeared to be utterly helpless in regulating the prices of essential food items and beverages for Sehri and Iftar. Prices of vegetables, fruits, and other items for Sehri and Iftar have increased, while sugar is not available even at government-subsidised markets and stalls. Due to the lack of subsidies at the Utility Stores, all the stores in the city are presenting a desolate picture. Since the start of Ramazan, the rising prices of vegetables and fruits have continued unabated. In the open market, ghee is being sold at Rs500 per kg, oil Rs520 per litre, mutton Rs2,400 per kg, beef Rs1,400 per kg, gram flour Rs400 per kg. Vendors are selling coriander leaves (which are given free with vegetables) at Rs30 per bunch, potatoes Rs90 per kg, onions Rs100 per kg, garlic Rs800 per kg, ginger Rs600 per kg, peas Rs100 per kg, tomatoes Rs150 per kg, and lemons Rs200 per kg. Banana is being sold at Rs300 per dozen, oranges Rs400-500 per dozen, guava Rs250 per kg, apple Rs300-400 per kg, pomegranates Rs450 per kg, melons Rs250 per kg, gram flour Rs400 per kg, chickpeas Rs390 per kg, samosa Rs500 per dozen, pakora Rs600 per kg, and kachoris is being sold at Rs190 per piece.
