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Reading: PAC Seeks Disclosure of Sugar Mill Ownership Amid Price Surge Beyond Rs200/kg
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PAC Seeks Disclosure of Sugar Mill Ownership Amid Price Surge Beyond Rs200/kg

Khudayar Mohla
Khudayar Mohla
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While trying to ascertain reasons behind increase in basic commodity ‘sugar’ prices nationawide Public Accounts Committee sought complete record pertaining to all sugar mill owners and exporters of sugar.

Junaid Akbar chaired meeting of Public Accounts Committe (PAC) in presence of members including  Omar Ayub, Riaz Fatyana, and Senator Fauzia Arshad.
During the session, the committee expressed serious concern over the sharp increase in sugar prices, with revelations that sugar is being sold at Rs210 per kg in Karachi and Rs215 in Haripur, while the national average stands at Rs173 per kg.
A private television reported that the the Secretary for Food Security faced strong criticism for presenting inaccurate data. According to the Ministry of Industries, 5.09 million tons of sugar were approved for export over the last decade, but only 3.927 million tons were actually exported, earning over $400 million in foreign exchange.
The lawmakers criticised the ongoing cycle of sugar export and import, calling it a decade-long deception. Fatyana and Arshad claimed that the nation was defrauded of Rs287 billion due to the manipulated price hike and artificial shortages.
The PAC chairman questioned why sugar mill owners were given export subsidies and criticised the sudden issuance of SROs granting tax exemptions. MNA Moeen Pirzada accused top government officials of looting the nation and blamed the Sugar Advisory Board for corruption, calling the sugar mafia an integral part of the government.
When pressed, the Ministry of Industries hesitated to reveal the names of sugar mill owners, prompting the PAC to demand immediate submission of names and directorship details. The PAC chairman warned that if the list wasn’t submitted shortly, a privilege motion would be moved.
Officials stated that Pakistan produced 7.66 million metric tons of sugar last year, with 1.3 million metric tons in surplus. Of that, 500,000 tons were reserved for the next year, while the government approved the export of 790,000 tons in three phases.
At the time of export, the local market price of sugar was Rs143 per kg, which has now jumped to Rs173. In response, the prime minister formed a committee led by Deputy PM Ishaq Dar to investigate the matter.

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Khudayar Mohla, Managing Partner Mohla & Mohla, Founder of the Law Today Pakistan,
ByKhudayar Mohla
Managing Partner at Mohla & Mohla - Advocates and Legal Consultants, Islamabad, Founder of The Law Today Pakistan (TLTP) Newswire Service. Former President Press Association of Supreme Court of Pakistan with over two decades of coverage of defining judicial moments - including the dissolution and restoration of Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, Asif Ali Zardari NAB cases, Syed Yousaf Raza Gillani contempt proceedings, Panama Papers case against Mian Nawaz Sharif, matters involving Imran Khan, and the high treason trial of former Army Chief and President Pervez Musharraf. He now practises law and teaches Jurisprudence, International Law, Civil and Criminal Law. Can be reached at: mohla@lawtoday.com.pk
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