QUETTA: Following successful negotiations with local authorities, sugar dealers have ended their weeklong strike and will resume supplying sugar to Quetta and surrounding areas.

In a joint press conference held on late Wednesday evening, Quetta Commissioner Hamza Shafqaat, Abdul Rahim Kakar (president of the traders’ organisation), and Abdul Rehman Agha (president of the Sugar Dealers’ Association) announced the resolution of the matter, with sugar supply set to resume in the coming days.

Sugar dealers had halted sugar supply to Quetta and cities in Sindh and Punjab, initiating a strike in response to what they deemed as “inappropriate treatment by Sindh and Balochistan Customs.” The suspension of sugar supply resulted in a sugar price hike of over Rs200 per kg in Balochistan, resulting in unavailability of sugar in some areas of the province.

Commissioner Hamza explained that the sugar supply system from other provinces is computerised. Following discussions with representatives of the dealers and traders, a decision was reached for the sugar dealers to end their strike promptly and resume sugar supply.

It was determined that the sugar price would be reduced, and with the resumption of supply, the price is expected to reach Rs140 per kg in the coming days.

“Customs officials would not obstruct the supply of sugar legally operated by dealers,” the Quetta commissioner assured the dealers.

Published in Dawn, November 9th, 2023