Lahore:
Pakistan Sugar Mills Association (PSMA) has emphasized that the sugar industry has always cooperated with the government in the greater national interest, but the sale of sugar on the market has been severely affected by the ban on Inter -province and intermediate district movement of the product and closure of the Federal Board of Revenue’s (FBR) portal.
In a meeting with Punjab Cane Commissioner Amjad Hafeez, the Secretary General of PSMA said that like other crops, floods and torrent rain had also damaged sugar cane plantations over a large area and the crop would take time to mature fully.
He pointed out that the government had already been intimized that sugar stocks would be available in the country until mid -November, but despite the insurance, the government accepted bids for importing 350,000 metric tons for which taxes and taxes were waived.
“With the arrival of imported sugar and the presence of stocks in mills, it will not be possible to kick the crushing season early,” he noted.
He expressed concern that if such restrictions on the free movement of sugar continued, it would not only affect the industry but also the sugar cane producers. The Secretary -General demanded that the government take status over the serious situation and rule the country out of crisis in connection with the sugar industry.
A week ago, PSMA said in a statement that FBR had stopped the sale of sugar across the country through its online portal, which led to strong objections from members of the association.
While expressing concern about the FBR’s steps to limit the sale of Sugar Mills through the portal, PSMA pointed out that there were no such restrictions on the sale or pricing of imported sugar that called for equal terms.
A spokesman for association warned that such policies could lead to a serious market crisis. They warned that limiting the sale of domestic sugar could cause a shortage of market, which potentially results in an increase in prices.
