RAWALPINDI: The sugar crisis is unlikely to end despite the agreement between the federal government and the sugar mill association raising the price of the commodity from Rs36 to Rs55 as they did not take provinces and the people on board.
The federal government and sugar mill owners chose the occasion ahead of Ramazan when people were anticipating all time high prices of essential commodities.
However, it should not be forgotten that the government of Ayub Khan had gone for raising just minor increase in sugar price. Last week, sugar price rose to all time high to Rs60 to Rs65 in various parts of the country.
The government raised the price of sugar abruptly from Rs38 to Rs50 on the plea that the sugar price in the international market was high. It was also announced that if imported from Dubai the sugar would cost the public Rs65 per kg.
The increase of Rs12 per kg in the price of sugar is considered as the most unpopular decision of the federal government.
The first reaction to the federal government’s decision to increase sugar price came from the Punjab government saying Islamabad did not consult the provincial government over increasing the sugar price.
The provincial government is determined to sell sugar at Rs40 in the province.
The Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif appealed to the federal government to relax sales tax and excise duty on sugar.
The Punjab government alleged that the Federal Minister for Production Mian Manzur Ahmad Watto had unilaterally decided to raise the price of sugar without consulting Punjab.
Mr Shahbaz Sharif said the Punjab government recovered more than 250,000 bags of sugar from hoarders in a bid to sell sugar to public at reasonable price, but the decision of the federal minister in fact quashed the move of the provincial government.
Despite increase in the price of sugar, the commodity is still not available in the open market.
The consumers were visiting Ramazan bazaars and utility stores where sugar is available at Rs40 and Rs38 respectively.
The solution of sugar crisis is not in sight and it is feared that during Ramazan the crisis is likely to assume new dimensions.
Source: Dawn.com
