PM Imran gives credit to PTI govt for sugar price cut by Rs20 per kg

Premier says distribution of imported sugar at control rates and timely start of crushing season also ensured

Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday said that the ex-mill price of sugar is down by Rs20 per kilogramme within 20 days due to the effective intervention of the government.

"Distribution of imported sugar at control rates & timely start of crushing season also ensured. I have asked provinces to ensure fair & swift cane payments are made to farmers," he wrote on his official Twitter handle.

Due to effective intervention by Govt, ex-mill price of sugar is down by Rs 20/kg within 20 days. Distribution of imported sugar at control rates & timely start of crushing season also ensured. I have asked provinces to ensure fair & swift cane payments are made to farmers.

— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) December 2, 2020

In July, the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet had allowed import of 300,000 tonnes of sugar which the government exempted from withholding tax and 17% sales tax in a bid to lower the price of the sweetener in the country.

Of late, Minister for Industries and Production Hammad Azhar said that the federal government had imported more than 100 tonnes of sugar, which would reduce prices of the commodity by Rs15 to Rs20 per kilogramme.

He had also announced the arrival of imported sugar at Karachi port, saying that 40,000 tonnes of sugar was released to the Punjab government to provide the sweetener at controlled rates.

He said that the sugar mills had also assured to start the crushing season early as decided with the Punjab government, which would too help reduce prices of sugar in the domestic market.

Last month, the federal cabinet was told that there is no shortage of wheat and sugar in the country and that there will be no further increase in the prices of these essential commodities.