Sidestepping inflation: Govt to set up its sugar stalls for Ramazan

ISLAMABAD: Instead of addressing the surging sugar prices that have burdened consumers nationwide, the government has opted to set up makeshift stalls at the municipal level, offering sugar at a fixed rate of Rs130 per kilogram during Ramazan.

Despite this unchecked inflation, the Sugar Advisory Board (SAB), chaired by Federal Minister for Industries and Production Rana Tanveer Hussain, decided in a meeting to introduce these temporary stalls rather than enforcing market discipline. Chief secretaries of all provinces have been tasked with ensuring their immediate setup, with 230 stalls planned for Sindh, 405 for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and additional ones in Punjab and Balochistan.

Notably, the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) on Friday reported that sugar prices have surged by Rs20.88 per kg, or 15.5 percent, over the past two months, reaching an average of Rs155.27 per kg in the week ending Feb. 20. In some areas, including the capital, prices have exceeded Rs160 per kg in the open market.

Officials claim the initiative will provide relief to consumers and curb hoarding and price manipulation. However, critics argue that such short-term fixes fail to address the underlying issues of sugar price hikes, profiteering, and ineffective market regulation. Rana Tanveer directed that sugar supply at these stalls remain uninterrupted until the 27th of Ramazan, with a special committee formed to resolve potential bottlenecks. He insisted the initiative was designed to benefit the public and vowed strict monitoring.Meanwhile, the Pakistan Sugar Mills Association (PSMA) and provincial authorities have been ordered to cooperate to maintain supply chains. Special security measures have also been mandated for Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to ensure smooth transportation and distribution.