LAHORE: As the shortage of sugar at most retail shops continues in various localities, the local authorities seems to have no viable plan to ensure smooth supply of the commodity for the public at large.

On the other hand, the situation has forced the people to either buy sugar on high rates from the local shops or search some major departmental/chain-stores for getting it on the notified DC rate (Rs173 per kg), Dawn has learnt.

“None of the grocery shops in our area has sugar for the last many days. And I finally got it (only two kg) at a major mall’s grocery store at the rate of Rs173 per kg,” commented a resident of J-Block (Johar Town).

According to another Johar Town’s resident (near Ayub Chowk), most retail shops in his area don’t have sugar due to which the people are forced to purchase it on high rates from others. “A shopkeeper ‘secretly’ gave me sugar at the rate of Rs190 claiming that he himself got it for Rs183 per kg from the wholesale market,” he added.

Retailers have their own stories to tell; DC rubbishes reports about scarcity

Likewise Johar Town - the city’s one of the major residential and commercial areas - the shortage of the sweetener also persists at Mohallah shops situated reportedly in Mughalpura, Kotli Pir Abdul Rehman, Rehmanpura, Daroghawala, Samanabad, Township, Samsani, Islampura, Sanda etc.

“We have finally decided not to procure sugar from the wholesale market, since it costs us much more than the price fixed by the city administration. We have done this due to heavy fines being imposed on us by the government unlawfully,” said a shopkeeper while talking to Dawn on Saturday.

According to him, a 50kg sugar bag is being sold in the wholesale markets for Rs9,200. And when we receive it after paying transportation charges, it costs for Rs186. “But when we sell it to the people at Rs190 per kilo, the government not only captures us but also imposes heavy fines besides registering cases. So it is better not to sell sugar,” he argued.

When asked that how some major stores are selling the commodity at the rate of Rs173 per kg, he said in fact, they have huge stocks for long. “A Mohallah shop owner purchases a couple of sugar bags whereas these stores procure in bulk (thousands of bags) due to which it costs to them lower than a shopkeeper,” he said, requesting the government to better penalise the hoarders instead of capturing the shopkeepers.

Upon contact, Lahore Deputy Commissioner Syed Musa Raza dispelled the impression and termed the shopkeepers’ stance baseless. “In last few days we have ensured supply of over 6,000 metric tonnes of sugar in the wholesale markets at the rate of Rs167 per kg. The ex-mill price is Rs165 per kg. So how can someone buy sugar from the wholesale market for Rs184 per kg,” he wondered.

He said the ‘mafia’ is trying hard to defeat the government by creating artificial shortage of sugar. According to him, the mill owners are not ready to sell sugar as per government notified rates (Rs165 per kg). But the government has tightened all of them to follow the rates. “I am confident to say that 90 to 95 per cent of Lahore has no shortage of sugar. And there may be some retailers and wholesalers creating artificial shortage in a bid to make a quick buck,” DC Mr Raza claimed, adding that if shopkeepers are getting sugar bag at Rs9,200, they must contact his office with immediate effect.

Published in Dawn, August 17th, 2025