Sugar price surges to Rs37 per kg

Fareed Qureshi, chairman of Retailers Association Karachi told The Nation that the retail price of sugar had soared to Rs36-per kg during Eid holidays in city. The less supply of commodity from sugar mills could be the main reason of recent hike in the retail price of white sweetener, he pointed out, adding that increase in the carriage transports led in further hike in the price during Eid days. He further informed that whole sale price of sugar has also increased to Rs3500 per 100 kg from earlier price of Rs3200 per 100 kg in city which triggered the retail price of the commodity in metropolis.

Meanwhile, a representative of Pakistan Sugar Mills Association advocating the hike in ex-mill rate of white sweetener to Rs32 per kg said that the sugarcane price is much higher than current ex-mill rate of sugar which increased the cost of production of sugar.

Keeping in view the Rs60 per 40-kg the price of sugarcane during outgoing season of this crop he stressed that ex-mill rate should be Rs35 per kg as sugar industry had suffered lot due to this imbalance in sugar and sugarcane price.

He claimed that the sugar was the only food item which is cheapest and easily available in sufficient quantity than other commodities. There was much difference persisted in wholesale and retail prices of the sugar, he admitted, adding that lack of governance and vigilance system of price control was one of the reasons behind hike in retail prices of the commodity.