The Pakistan Economy Watch (PEW) on Thursday paid tributes to the federal government for not coming under the pressure of the sugar mafia.
The government has saved the country from a new sugar crisis by not allowing the export of sugar as it would have resulted in shortage and scarcity would have doubled the prices in the open market, it said.
Now the sugar mafia will adopt the tactic of not paying the farmers affected by floods, against which strict action will be taken, said Dr. Murtaza Mughal, President of PEW.
He said that the people and farmers are always exploited by the influential sugar mafia and new scandal comes to light after a year or two.
Dr Murtaza Mugjal said that some influential personalities first exported sugar during the PTI regime and after a shortage in the country re-imported it and made billions in the process.
This resulted in an almost hundred percent hike in the price of sugar which jumped from Rs50 per kg to Rs95 per kg and now it is being sold at Rs100 per kg in the open market.
Despite efforts, the price of sugar could not be reduced and the masses are still paying double the price, he said.
Following the public outrage, the PTI’s central leadership formed an investigation commission but no concrete action was taken against the influential responsible for the plunder.
The sugar business has attracted a lot of politicians and other influential which is a reason behind frequent loot, he observed.
Dr. Mughal said that now the sugar mill owners are again claiming that the country has 12 lakh tonnes of surplus sugar which should be allowed to be exported.
However, if sugar export was allowed, another sugar crisis will arise in the country and the price of sugar may reach Rs 200 per kg.
He said that 220 million people cannot be exploited for the undue benefit of a few sugar mill owners.
Currently, the mill owners are assuring the government that there will be no crisis in the country, but such assurances have also been proven wrong.
Meanwhile, the Sugar Mills Association has also demanded to increase in the official price of sugar from 85 rupees to 110 rupees per kg which should be rejected immediately.
The government should prioritize the interest of the people over the mill owners and ensure that sugar does not become more expensive, he said.
