ISLAMABAD, Jan 27: The government on Friday decided to start regular sugar imports from India, impose 15 per cent duty on gur export and double the supply of sugar to the Utility Stores Corporation (USC), in a bid to control prices of the commodity already touching a record high of Rs35-36 per kg.

An inter-ministerial meeting, presided over by Adviser to Prime Minister on Finance Dr Salman Shah, took decisions to this effect.

The meeting attributed the steep and sudden rise in sugar prices to “shortage of sugar and its price hike globally”, but did not mention delayed crushing throughout the country and a controversy over crushing in Sindh.

This is the first time since 1998-99, that sugar prices have increased so much. Sugar prices had touched Rs39-40 per kg six years ago.

The meeting directed the Trading Corporation of Pakistan (TCP) to explore import of enough quantity of sugar periodically throughout the year from neighbouring countries, including India, to replenish their stock.

It told the CBR to take necessary steps to control the unregulated production of sugar and unregistered buying, and ensure that the weight machines were installed at the main gates of sugar mills. The machines should be manned by excise officials to ascertain the exact quantity of sugarcane crushed by mills.

The meeting directed the CBR to put up a proposal to the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the cabinet for approval of 15 per cent tax on the export of gur to Afghanistan to ensure production and availability of enough sugar in the country.

Dr Shah claimed that the government was determined to provide sugar to the masses at a reasonable rate and asked the ministry of food and CBR to work out various options in this regard.