Sugar Advisory Board Recommends Export of 40,000 MT Sugar to Tajikistan

Minister for Industries and Production Rana Tanveer Hussain chaired a meeting of the Sugar Advisory Board (SAB) on Tuesday. The meeting was attended by the Secretary, Industries and Production, other high-ranking federal officers, representatives from provinces, representatives from the Pakistan Sugar Mills Association, Provincial Cane Commissioners, FBR officials, and growers. The Board recommended the export of 40,000 metric tons of sugar to Tajikistan. The arrangements to export sugar to Tajikistan will be made by the Trading Corporation of Pakistan Limited (TCP) after approval from the Economic Coordination Committee of the Cabinet. The meeting reviewed the stock position of the sugar in the country which is 2.852 million MT. The available stock is sufficient to meet the local demand for sugar. Pakistan Sugar Mills Association was of the view that there is a 1.5 million MT surplus stock of sugar available in the country which should be exported to support the sugar industry to earn revenue to meet the financial obligations of growers. The minister directed the Ministry of Industries, Provincial Cane Commissioners, and Federal Board of Revenue to carry out a reconciliation of stock and present a report in the next meeting of SAB which is likely to be held next Tuesday. During the meeting, representatives of the Pakistan Sugar Mills Association stated that there had been no increase in the ex-mills price of sugar and it had nothing to do with the retail price of the commodity. They urged the government to take steps to maintain the retail price through the district administration. The minister directed provinces to take strict action against the hoarders.