Sugar price skyrockets, costs more than petrol

Lahore: Despite government's assurances of working to curb the prices of essential items, sugar price increases across Pakistan, becoming more expensive than petrol.

Amid the rising inflation in Pakistan, the sugar crisis has risen to an alarming level, with the commodity being sold at Rs160 per kg in the wholesale markets in several parts of country.

The price shot through the roof on Thursday, with no official control at wholesale and retail level.  

The price of sugar was Rs125 per kg last week and Rs105 per kg a week earlier — a jump of Rs55 per kg is in a fortnight.

Inflated rates, with negligible variations, were reported from Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar, Quetta and other parts of the country.

Lahore

The price of sugar has increased by Rs 9 per kg in the wholesale market and is being sold at Rs 135 per kg as compared to yesterday’s rate of Rs 126 per kg. The wholesale price reached Rs15, 000 per 100kg bag.

Karachi

In Karachi, the price of the essential commodity in the wholesale market has gone up to Rs 25 and is being sold at Rs 140 per kg now. Whereas in the retail market the sugar kilogram is available for no less than Rs 145.

Quetta

As sugar have been jacked up in various parts of the country, the price suddenly rose to over Rs140 per kg from Rs135 per kg in Quetta.

Peshawar

In the wholesale market, the price of sugar has increased by Rs8 per kg in Peshawar. As per the president of the Sugar Dealers Association, sugar is being sold in Peshawar at a wholesale rate of Rs140 per kg while the retail price has gone up from Rs145 to Rs150 per kg.

This comes after Imran Khan on Wednesday announced a subsidy package terming it “country’s historic relief package” of worth Rs 120 billion, providing a 30% discount on ghee, flour, and pulses to support 130 million people.