The sugar crisis deepened across Pakistan on July 28 as Lahore and Islamabad markets reported severe shortages. Meanwhile, sugar prices surged to as high as Rs190 per kilogram in other major cities, including Karachi, Peshawar, and Quetta. The government has now called an urgent meeting with representatives from the Sugar Mills Association to address the issue.
According to reports, the government had fixed the ex-mill price of sugar at Rs165 per kilogram and the retail price at Rs173. However, these official rates are not being followed in most parts of the country. In reality, wholesale prices are hovering around Rs174 to Rs178, while retail prices range between Rs180 and Rs190.
In Peshawar, sugar is selling at Rs175 per kilogram in wholesale and Rs180 at retail outlets. Similarly, in Quetta, wholesale prices have reached Rs178, while retail rates vary between Rs185 and Rs190. Despite official pricing, the market continues to ignore the government’s price cap, fueling public frustration.
Moreover, reports from Lahore and Islamabad confirm that sugar has disappeared from many local markets. Shoppers are struggling to find sugar at reasonable rates and are being forced to visit multiple stores in search of the essential commodity. This growing scarcity has raised concerns about stockpiling and hoarding.
To tackle the crisis, the government has summoned a high-level meeting with the Sugar Mills Association today. The focus will be on ensuring that mills comply with the agreed pricing mechanism. Authorities are also expected to take decisions on improving supply chain monitoring and cracking down on hoarders.