Sugar price fixed at Rs165 per kg in Pakistan

In a move aimed at stabilising sugar prices, the federal government and sugar mill owners have reached an agreement to fix the ex-mill price of sugar at Rs165 per kilogram, the Ministry of National Food Security announced in an official statement.

The agreement follows successful negotiations with sugar producers, intended to provide relief to consumers amid growing concerns over inflated and artificial price hikes.

The ministry has directed provincial governments to ensure the availability of sugar at the newly agreed price in all markets.

Despite the measure, sugar continues to be sold at rates as high as Rs200 per kilogram in various regions across the country.

Officials blame the sharp increase on hoarding and market manipulation by influential sugar cartels, which persist despite the federal government’s temporary removal of import duties aimed at easing supply constraints.

Read more: Pakistan to import 500,000MT of sugar amid rising prices

Meanwhile, the Wholesale Grocers Association has criticised the decision to lift import taxes, arguing it has had minimal impact on controlling prices.

Instead, the association has called for a forceful crackdown on hoarders and the launch of targeted raids on storage facilities, asserting that strict action against cartelisation would result in a meaningful drop in market prices.