The spokesperson of the Ministry of Finance announced on Twitter that the sugar production of Pakistan rose to 7.5 million tonnes recording an increase of around 36.3 percent from last year, which registered only 5.4 million tonnes of sugar production.
The sugar production witnessed a rise in production of almost 2 million tonnes in a year. According to a tweet by the Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue, because of the increase in sugar production, Pakistan is now back to being a “sugar surplus country”. He further added that the Ex-mill sugar prices are now around “Rs. 81 per kg substantially lower from last year”.
Great news this year sugar production rose to 7.5 million tones, which is 36.3% higher from last year 5.5mn tones. Another record in place by PTI government!
— Muzzammil Aslam (@MuzzammilAslam3) March 25, 2022
Sugar prices are down to 80 ex mill. Wheat prices are now 2200, which is stable for more than a year
— Muzzammil Aslam (@MuzzammilAslam3) March 25, 2022
The retail price of the sweetener had soared to around Rs. 160 per kg in some parts of the country, but the recent uptick in the production helped bring down the inflated retail prices as well. Wheat prices have also remained stable at “2200, which is stable for more than a year,” said the spokesperson to the Finance Minister.
Prime Minister Imran Khan has very actively championed the cause to do away with the alleged cartelization of sugar businesses. PM Khan vowed that he would not allow the cartels to blackmail the government or to exploit the farmers. Earlier, Information Minister Fawad Chaudhary, while addressing a news conference, accused two senior leaders of the hike in sugar prices.
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The federal government also lambasted the provincial administration of Sindh and some federal ministers for the “artificial” sugar crisis. To mitigate the effects of a sugar crisis in the future, the government has announced to procure 0.5 million tonnes of sugar per annum to build up its sugar reserves.
War of words
In 2021, the federal government, on multiple occasions, blamed the Sindh government for creating an artificial sugar crisis. However, the Sindh government was also quick to expunge the remarks and redirect them towards the federal government’s “inefficient” handling of the situation.
Sindh Information Minister Saeed Ghani responding to the accusations, said that “[The] incompetent federal ministers are trying their best to hold the Sindh government responsible for the sugar, wheat, and even gas crisis but they have no knowledge of the facts.”
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He further added that “The federal ministers are blaming the Sindh government and saying that the crisis occurred because the crushing has not started here. So tell me, has it started in Punjab, which produces way more than Sindh.”
Tremors also started to emerge within the ruling party as some senior members recorded their protest over the alleged involvement in the sugar mafia cartel. Subsequently, the disgruntled MNA’s parted ways with the ruling party to form another faction.