Lahore: Pakistan Sugar Mills Association (PSMA) president Chaudhry Zaka Ashraf said independent Russian states had expressed interest in buying sugar from the country, reports local media.
Zaka said, “This would help the country in bringing in significant foreign exchange.”
Addressing a press conference, he said, “There is a surplus of 2 million tonnes of sugar in the country. The sugar produced in the country is around 8 million tonnes while the total consumption of sugar across the country was up to 6 million tonnes and we urge the government to permit us to export the surplus commodity in the current production year.”
“Sugar mills are likely to face a financial crunch for the next crushing season if they are not allowed to export 10 per cent more sugar and if this situation persists then they won’t be able to operate next season,” he said.
“The cost of sugarcane production has increased and the government should increase the fair price of sugar to address this issue. Allowing sugar exports won’t lead to sugar shortage in the domestic market, nor its prices would go above Rs 90 per kg,” PSMA president further added.
