In a bid to stabilise sugar prices and ease the financial burden on consumers, the federal cabinet has given final approval for the 500,000-tonne sugar import, the Ministry of National Food Security confirmed on Tuesday.
According to the ministry’s statement, the entire import process has been finalised and is being implemented immediately. Officials explained that the move aims to correct market imbalances that have caused sugar prices to surge sharply in recent months. “Unlike previous years, when artificial shortages were created to justify subsidies, this 500,000-tonne sugar import is a necessary step for genuine market correction,” the ministry stated.
Sugar prices have seen a dramatic rise across major cities. In Lahore, rates climbed by Rs6 per kg, reaching Rs190, while in Quetta, prices spiked by Rs5 to match the same level. Karachi recorded the steepest surge, with sugar retailing up to Rs200 per kilogram. Back in December 2024, sugar’s ex-mill price hovered around Rs125–130 per kg—highlighting the alarming scale of the price jump.
The latest import decision comes just months after the Sugar Advisory Board, led by Federal Minister Rana Tanveer Hussain, allowed the export of 750,000 tonnes of sugar between June 2024 and January 2025. Back then, market conditions were favourable, and traders had assured the government that prices would remain stable without the need for imports in 2025. However, these promises have fallen flat, leaving the government under mounting pressure to control inflation.
Minister Rana Tanveer Hussain pointed out that disruption in the supply chain and non-compliance by sugar mill owners have significantly contributed to market volatility. "The increased price of sugar is not only hurting households directly but is also driving up the cost of many other food items, putting extra strain on ordinary citizens," he said.
While the government hopes the new import will stabilise the market, critics argue that the situation could have been avoided with better planning. Analysts and consumer advocates are questioning the earlier decision to allow large-scale sugar exports despite warning signs of an upcoming shortage.
