LAHORE (PPI) - Chairman Pakistan Sugar Mills Association Punjab Zone Javed Kayani has strongly condemned PSQCA statement that sugar produced in Pakistan is of substandard quality tantamounts to blatant defamation of the sugar industry. He said as a matter of fact the sugar is evaluated on the basis of ICUMSA (International Commission on Uniform Methods of Sugar Analysis) grading based on appearance and colour of sugar which is in no way injurious to human health and cannot be construed as the basis of substandard sugar. He said, 'shakar and 'gur have ICUMSA of more than 4000 in view of their appearance where sugar produced in our country is about 100 ICUMSA. Rest of other the parameters substantiate that sugar produced in Pakistan is compatible with any international standard. He said the statement of PSQCA is defamatory and derogatory in nature which has insulted the entire sugar industry of the country and it has made a mockery in the eyes of local and international business market. We are following the procedure as stipulated by PSQCA. During our previous meeting with PSQCA Pakistan Sugar Mills Association had requested that any promulgation or implementation of quality standards should only be enforced with effect from new crushing season and industry may be given lead time for necessary installation of equipment to remain in conformity with all parameters given by PSQCA. Ministry of Science and Technology should refrain from such propaganda against the sugar industry which can seriously harm our business interests and reserve the right to file a defamation suit against PSQCA.