Punjab govt to ask Centre to stop sugar export

LAHORE: The Punjab government will request the federal government to stop export of sugar to avoid its shortage in the holy month of Ramazan.

This was decided in a meeting chaired by Provincial Minister for Industries, Commerce and Investment Mian Aslam Iqbal here on Thursday. Provincial ministers Hussain Bahadur Drashak, Sami Ullah Chaudhary and Noman Akhtar Langrial.

Punjab government spokesman Dr Shehbaz Gil, Utility Stores MD and the secretaries concerned attended the meeting. The meeting decided to write a letter to the federal government for stopping the export of sugar to avoid its shortage in Pakistan as its price had already started to show surging trend well before Ramazan.

The meeting also decided that the Punjab government would provide 19 items at subsidised rates at the fair price shops set up in Ramzan bazaars during the holy month. During the meeting, different proposals were discussed to finalise Ramzan Package 2019.

Aslam Iqbal said the Ramzan Package would soon be finalised with the consultation of traders’ association. He alleged the previous government wasted Rs 12 billion in the name of subsidy. The PTI government will provide real benefit of subsidies to the poor families, he said.

He said it was the failure of administration that daily-used items were being sold at the rates higher than the official prices. It will not be tolerated at any cost and 120 million peoples of Punjab will not become hostage of profiteers, he added.

The minister said the poor families would be given relief during the holy month by providing quality items at subsidised rates. He directed the authorities concerned to activate the market committees.