KARACHI: Temporary rationing of sugar has been introduced in Karachi from today [Oct 22]. The Deputy Commissioner of Karachi yesterday announced that weekly quota of sugar will be available from today on ration cards from the ration depots. A spokesman of the Food Controller Office said that under temporary rationing two chattaks of sugar will be given per head per week. The price will be Rs 1.75 per seer.

[Agency report adds] Sale of sugar at control price of Rs. 1.75 per seer began yesterday at 50 per cent of about 140 ration depots in Rawalpindi and Islamabad. The Rationing Controller in Rawalpindi said that the remaining depots will start selling sugar at the prescribed rate of four chattaks per head today. By yesterday afternoon all depot holders had lifted their stocks, he said. According to the official, about 300 more bags of imported sugar were received in Rawalpindi today. This raised to 2,800 bags the total stocks which on Sunday reportedly stood at 2,500 bags declared by the wholesalers.

In Islamabad, the Commerce Minister, Mr Abdul Ghafoor Khan, discussed yesterday the sugar supply and price position with sugar manufacturers of West Pakistan. Measures to make sugar available at the notified price were considered.

Published in Dawn, October 22nd, 2018