Sugar sales are harmed by the prohibition of interprovincial travel.

Although the Pakistan Sugar Mills Association (PSMA) has emphasized that the sugar industry has always worked with the government in the greater good of the country, the prohibition on the movement of the commodity between provinces and districts as well as the shutdown of the Federal Board of Revenue’s (FBR) portal have had a negative impact on sugar sales in the market.

The secretary general of PSMA stated in a meeting with Punjab Cane Commissioner Amjad Hafeez that, similar to other crops, sugarcane plantations were severely damaged by floods and heavy rains over a wide area, and that it would take some time for the crop to reach full maturity.

He noted that although the government had previously been informed that there would be adequate supplies of sugar in the nation until the middle of November, the government nevertheless approved bids for the import of 350,000 metric tons, for which taxes and levies had been removed.

“It will not be possible to start the crushing season early due to the influx of imported sugar and the availability of stocks in mills,” he said.

He voiced concern that the industry and sugarcane growers will be impacted if such limitations on the free flow of sugar persisted. In connection with the sugar industry, the secretary general urged the government to assess the dire circumstances and guide the nation out of a crisis.

Members of the association strongly objected to the FBR’s decision to stop selling sugar nationwide through its online portal, according to a statement released by the PSMA a week ago.
The PSMA called for a level playing field and expressed worry about the FBR’s decision to limit sales by sugar mills through the portal, pointing out that there were no limits of that kind on the pricing or sale of imported sugar.

A representative for the association cautioned that such policies might cause a serious market catastrophe. They issued a warning that limiting domestic sugar sales would result in a market shortage and raise prices.