Sugar mill owners across Pakistan have raised strong objections against government policies, claiming that recent administrative decisions have triggered an unprecedented surge in sugar prices. 🏭💸According to the Pakistan Sugar Mills Association (PSMA), the government’s closure of the FBR sales portal (S-Track) and priority given to imported sugar have disrupted the domestic market. 📉 The millers argue that while local sugar stock is sufficient, the closure of the online sales system has halted sugar dispatches from mills for several weeks — causing shortages and panic in the market. 🚫📦
The association also claimed that the government’s move to allow the import of nearly 300,000 tonnes of foreign sugar has hurt local producers, creating confusion and instability in prices. ⚖️🛳️Meanwhile, consumers are facing rising retail prices, with sugar now being sold at record highs in several cities. 📈🍭Government officials, however, insist that the steps were taken to curb hoarding and manipulation, and a special committee has been formed to investigate both the sugar supply disruption and possible cartelization in the market. 🕵️♂️🏛️The PSMA has urged the government to reopen the sales portal immediately, ensure fair trade policies, and support the local sugar industry to stabilize prices before the next crushing season begins. 🤝🌱
