Federal Minister for National Food Security, Rana Tanveer Hussain, has dismissed concerns of a sugar crisis in Pakistan. During a press conference in Islamabad on Wednesday, he clarified that recent sugar imports and exports have been misunderstood, and that there is no actual shortage in the country.
“There is no sugar crisis. Supply and pricing are stable, and the decision to export was based on surplus stock,” said the minister. He emphasized that sugar imports are not happening for the first time, and such transactions are part of routine supply management. According to him, when export permission was requested last year, the retail price per kilogram was Rs138, and the government aimed to keep it around Rs140.
Rana Tanveer explained that sugar mills had argued for exports, claiming financial pressure due to unsold surplus. They warned that without exports, they would be unable to repay bank loans, which could negatively impact the sugarcane crop for the next season. To address this, the government allowed exports while maintaining a domestic reserve of 500,000 tons.
He also noted that sugar prices had actually decreased after exports were allowed. During Ramadan, sugar was available at Rs130 per kg, despite global market fluctuations. Furthermore, he stated that the sugar industry follows seasonal patterns. “Just like frogs appear in monsoon, sugar export talks emerge at a certain time every year,” he said, making a pointed analogy.
The minister reiterated that sugar exports are nothing new, and have happened regularly over the past decade. He also explained that key decisions are made by the Sugar Advisory Board, which includes federal ministers, provincial representatives, and senior officials from relevant departments. Last year, Pakistan started with an opening stock of 800,000 tons of sugar, making the decision to export economically sound.