February 20, 2003	Thursday	Zul Hijjah 18, 1423

KARACHI, Feb 19: Trading Corporation of Pakistan (TCP) on Wednesday procured 18,000 metric tons of sugar from 12 sugar mills at a price of Rs18,998 a ton.

According to TCP, the 11 bidders have accepted Corporation’s request to match the lowest bid of Rs18,998 per ton.

Earlier, these mills — nine from Sindh and two from Punjab — had quoted a price of Rs19,000 per ton which was higher by Rs2 per ton to the lowest bid.

Nineteen bidders had participated in the tender which was floated by TCP two weeks ago for the procurement of 12,000 tons of sugar on the instructions of the government to buy the surplus sugar produced in the country.

Other seven bidders have quoted a price above Rs19,000 per ton, which was not feasible for TCP.

The TCP has given 15 days time to successful sugar mills to prepare for the supply of sugar in export packing.

Meanwhile, Trading Corporation of Pakistan (TCP) has invited applications for pre-qualification from interested parties for package deal regarding handling of about 100,000 metric tons of sugar for export.

The interested parties will be required to undertake a multiple operations and facilitation starting from loading of bagged sugar in break bulk and container for export.—APP