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Ex-mill price of sugar jumps to Rs59 per kg for commercial users; hoarders warned of action
Sunday, November 08, 2009
By Our Correspondent
LAHORE
THE Punjab government and the Pakistan Sugar Mills Association (PSMA) at last reached a consensus here on Saturday to start the sugarcane crushing season from November 13 in the province.
“With a view to ease sugar supplies to the province, the crushing season should start as soon as possible,” said Punjab Food Minister Malik Nadeem Kamran while talking to The News. Therefore, he added, “we have asked the mill owners to start sugar production in the second week of November otherwise, strict action will be taken against them.”
He said a meeting with a PSMA delegation was held in which the mill owners were asked to play their role on solving the sugar crisis.
“We have also warned hoarders to release sugar in the market till the night of Saturday otherwise all their stock will be confiscated,” the minister said.
Nadeem Kamran also asked all commissioners and DCOs to monitor the sale of sugar. Points should be set up for smooth sale of sugar in all cities of the province, he stressed.
He asked officials concerned to ensure the supply of sugar at all retail outlets. He emphasized that people should buy sugar as per their requirements only. He said people could lodge complains about the unavailability of sugar to the Secretary Food and the Secretary Industries.
A senior member of the PSMA said the mill owners had agreed to launch sugarcane crushing from November 13. “It is in the interest of our country, government and industry that the crushing season starts soon,” he said.
Meanwhile, sugar is still not available at most retail outlets of the provincial metropolis. Though, teams of the city administration conducted a survey of retail outlets on Saturday and assured shopkeeper that sugar would be supplied to them in the evening but nothing was done. It is pertinent to mention here that owing to two official holidays on Sunday and Monday, sugar will not be supplied to retail outlets, unless special arrangements are made by the provincial government.
On the other hand, the ex-mill price of sugar for commercial users jumped to Rs 59 per kg as against Friday’s price of Rs 58. Market insiders claimed that it was a record price of the commodity. Before launching a drive against the price hike of sugar a couple of months back, it was available in the wholesale market at Rs 52.50 per kg.
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ISSN 1563-9479 
