ISLAMABAD, Nov 1: Commerce Minister Abdul Razak Dawood said here on Friday that Pakistani sugar was emerging as major exporting commodity and would boost national exports.

He made this observation in a meeting with the Governor Sindh Mian Muhammad Soomro and other high officials of Sindh government. Secretary Industries Dr Muhammad Akram Shaikh, Board of Investment chairman Waseem Haqqi and CBR chief Riaz Malik were also present.

Mr Razak said at the end of the current crushing season, Pakistan was expecting surplus in sugar, which would be put for exports after having explored the international market.

The minister said prices of sugar for the domestic consumers had been kept at low and affordable level. He was of the view that now the public and the private sector must join hands to capture substantial portion of the world sugar market and establish credibility by exporting internationally compatible products of this industry.

Mr Razak said efforts were also in hand to go for value addition in this sector and improve the outcome of sugar from “our cane, which is at present not comparable with international cane.” He added that all required steps would be taken to protect the rights of farmers and they should be paid proper prices of their crops at right time.

The minister said that for the last couple of years Pakistan was blessed with bumper crop of sugarcane and sugar production was increasing over the years.