Islamabad: (RightNow) Pakistan faces severe challenges due to sugar export and import activities. Sugar mill owners demand permission to export 633 thousand tons of sugar.

Last year, the government allowed the export of 750 thousand metric tons of sugar. This led to a market shortage, pushing prices above 200 rupees per kilogram. The government attempted to control prices by importing 300 thousand metric tons of sugar but failed.

Sugar prices varied across cities, with Islamabad at 55 rupees and Lahore at 44 rupees per kilogram. Audit officials revealed that this situation imposed a 300 billion rupee burden on the public.

It is important to note that from 2015 to 2020, significant fraud in sugar exports was uncovered. The government provided a subsidy of 4.12 billion rupees, while records for 778 thousand metric tons of sugar went missing.

Remember, sugar mill owners claim a production of 8 million metric tons and urgently seek permission to export 600 thousand tons. Meanwhile, the government has not met IMF conditions.