Lahore: Sugar mills in Pakistan’s Punjab are set to commence the crushing season for the year 2023-24 on October 28, reported by ARY News.
The decision, reportedly driven by the caretaker government, is motivated by the belief that any further delay in the start of sugarcane crushing would ultimately lead to an increase in sugar prices.
As per media report, sources close to the Punjab cane commissioner have disclosed that an early start to crushing, in October, could potentially result in a decrease in sugar prices to below Rs140 per kilogram. Furthermore, it has been stated that the cane commissioner is committed to not granting unrestricted operational freedom to the sugar mills.
Conversely, the sugar mills have sought an extension until November 28 for commencing operations.
This development follows a prior action taken on September 8, when the Punjab government provided the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) with a list of 13 dealers allegedly implicated in the illicit sugar trade. The list, furnished with the assistance of the Punjab Food Department, comprises dealers purportedly connected to various sugar mills. These dealers, along with mill owners, are accused of artificially inflating sugar prices by amounts ranging from Rs 90 to Rs 180 per kilogram.
The Punjab Food Department contends that these dealers operated as a cartel, reaping substantial profits at the expense of ordinary citizens and legitimate businesses.
