Minister Denies Sugar Crisis, Prices Hit Rs190/kg

Islamabad, July 31, 2025, 10:26 PM PKT — Federal Minister for National Food Security Rana Tanveer Hussain has vehemently dismissed claims of a sugar crisis, asserting sufficient stocks and stable prices despite soaring rates and shortages in major urban centres like Lahore, Islamabad, Karachi, Peshawar, and Quetta, where prices hit Rs190 per kilogramme, far exceeding the official cap, per a Thursday press conference. He labeled reports as misleading, stressing an intact supply chain, with trade decisions vetted by the Sugar Advisory Board, including federal and provincial stakeholders, and citing a 1.3 million metric tonne surplus last year that spurred exports of the same amount, with 800,000 tonnes from opening stock and 6.8 million tonnes produced.

Exports began in October 2024, 20 days before the crushing season, when global prices were $750 per tonne and domestic rates Rs138/kg, with a Rs140/kg local cap. Yet, production this year fell to 5.8 million tonnes against a 7 million tonne projection, prompting imports and market regulation to stabilize supply, the minister admitted, vowing to protect sugarcane growers. He set a new price ceiling and targeted hoarders for artificial shortages, denying a genuine crisis. Web context on food security shows price volatility, while posts found on X reflect skepticism—some challenge stock claims, others demand action. Critically, the narrative of “no crisis” may mask supply gaps—web data hints at past shortages, and X sentiment suggests distrust in government assurances, pointing to underlying tensions.