BAHAWALPUR: Pakistan Sugar Mills Association (PSMA) Punjab Zone Chairman Zaka Ashraf Chaudhry has announced that all sugar mills in the province will shift their entire sugar stocks to the market to facilitate provision of the sweetener to the consumers at subsidised rates.
According to a PSMA press release issued on Saturday, the decision has been announced after its Punjab Zone chairman on Friday held a meeting in Lahore on the subject with federal food security minister Tariq Bashir Cheema and Punjab food secretary Muhammad Zaman Wattoo.
According to Mr Ashraf, in the meeting it was agreed that sugar millers would ensure the sale of sugar at subsidised rate of Rs95 per kilo at the designated sales points in the market and would also continue regular supply to their dealers and stockists.
DCs asked to designate points in districts for provision of sweetener
It decision was made in the backdrop of increasing sugar prices in the open market and allay government’s apprehension that dealers might be involved in hoarding.
The minister asked all deputy commissioners in Punjab to establish designated sales points in their respective districts for the sale of sugar at Rs95 per kilo.
The food secretary informed PSMA provincial head that with the assistance of the Punjab Information Technology Board (PITB), a dash board has been set up for the tracking of mills sugar stocks.
He said all PSMA members would share their sugar production data with the government through the dash board so that overcharging and smuggling of the commodity could be effectively prevented.
Mr Ashraf assured them that the PSMA member would cooperate with the government for provision of sugar to the people at subsidised rates.
Ashraf Sugar Mills, Bahawalpur, owned by Mr Zaka Ashraf, has already established 10 sales points in the two districts -- Bahawalpur and Lodhran -- where consumers can by the sweetener at Rs95 per kilo.
On the other hand, in the open market the sugar rates have jumped to Rs125-130 per kilo.
Published in Dawn, April 16th, 2023