Govt upholds decision to import 500,000 tons of sugar

(Web Desk): A meeting on sugar imports, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, upheld the decision to import 500,000 metric tons of sugar.

The follow-up meeting of the Steering Committee, led by the Deputy Prime Minister, was held today in Islamabad.

During the meeting, it was confirmed that the decision to import 500,000 metric tons of sugar will remain in place. The sugar will be imported through both the Trading Corporation of Pakistan (TCP) and the private sector.

The meeting on sugar imports was attended by the Federal Minister for National Food Security, chief secretaries from all three provinces, as well as federal and provincial secretaries.

During the session, the Deputy Prime Minister emphasized that ensuring the availability of essential commodities at reasonable prices and providing relief to the public is a key government priority.

It is noteworthy that the current government had permitted the export of a total of 750,000 metric tons of sugar from June to October 2024. The last export permit — for 500,000 metric tons — was granted in October.

At the time of approving sugar exports, the federal government had decided that if the retail price of sugar exceeded Rs. 145.15 per kilogram, exports would be immediately halted. However, between December 2024 and February 2025, sugar continued to be exported, and prices kept rising during this period.