Islamabad: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has reportedly expressed concern over the lack of essential data on sugar during a recent presentation. He directed the Ministry of National Food Security and Research Division to furnish comprehensive sugar-related data within a week, reported Brecorder.
During a meeting on April 26, 2026, the Prime Minister expressed dissatisfaction with the performance of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) and the flawed execution of the Track and Trace system, which was introduced in 2019 to curb tax evasion in the tobacco, sugar, and fertilizer industries. He remarked that the failure of the system to generate significant revenue for the country was due to poor implementation and mismanagement, suggesting collusion, negligence, and fraud.
The Prime Minister highlighted that the faulty oversight and absence of penalty clauses in agreements had resulted in substantial losses to the national economy. To address these issues, a committee chaired by the Minister for Finance was formed to investigate and assign accountability for the FBR’s failure in implementing the Track and Trace system.
Furthermore, the Prime Minister briefed the Cabinet on sectoral reviews of sugar.
Regarding sugar exports, the Prime Minister stressed the need for careful consideration to ensure domestic needs were met without affecting prices or risking smuggling. Anti-hoarding measures by provincial governments were also directed.
