In a bold move to tackle the growing sugar crisis, the federal government has confirmed the sugar import to stabilise prices across the country. The Ministry of National Food Security announced on Saturday that it has placed an official order to import 200,000 metric tonnes of sugar in a bid to cool off skyrocketing prices and address severe shortages in major cities.

According to a spokesperson for the ministry, the government is in the final stages of the procurement process, with tenders already opened. The first shipment is expected to arrive by early September, ensuring timely market intervention.

This decision comes as part of a broader strategy to prevent artificial price hikes, secure sufficient market supply, and provide relief to consumers struggling with inflation. Officials emphasized that the sugar is being imported directly by the government and not private entities — a move aimed at greater transparency and tighter price control.

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The sugar shortage has become dire in cities like Lahore and Islamabad, where markets are reportedly dry. Meanwhile, in Karachi, Peshawar, and Quetta, prices have spiked to as high as Rs190 per kilogramme, far exceeding the government’s official price cap.

Earlier this week, Federal Minister for National Food Security Rana Tanveer Hussain chaired a high-level meeting with the Pakistan Sugar Mills Association (PSMA) and provincial stakeholders. He warned mill owners of “strict oversight” on existing stocks and assured that hoarding and manipulation would not be tolerated.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also stepped in, directing authorities to enforce the sugar pricing agreement made between the PSMA and the government. The agreement set the ex-mill price at Rs165 per kg and capped the retail price at Rs173 per kg.

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In a rare and aggressive step, the government has seized 1.9 million tonnes of sugar from private mills and placed 18 major sugar dealers on the Exit Control List (ECL). The crackdown aims to discourage stockpiling and restore public confidence.

However, the PSMA chapters in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have denied any seizure of sugar stocks, sparking a new debate over transparency and accountability in the sector.

Officials confirmed that the sugar import to stabilise prices was negotiated at a discounted international rate, helping avoid pressure on the national exchequer. The import deal is being hailed as a financially smart move to fight inflation without adding to the country's debt load.