Talks on sugar export remain inconclusive
Govt’s assessment suggests that sugar production will be 260,000 tons less than the consumption requirement next year due to the widespread damage to the sugarcane crop. photo: file
Deadlock on allowing sugar export persisted on Wednesday, as the third round of talks between the government and the Pakistan Sugar Mills Association (PSMA) failed to yield any result, sources privy to the negotiations at the Food Security Ministry said.
They said that the government was adamant that sugar export could not be allowed without the confirmation from the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) of 1 million tonnes of surplus stock at the mills. The minister directed the FBR to provide details of sugar stocks to the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) on Monday.
Food Security Minister Tariq Bashir Cheema has taken a very firm stand on the export of sugar. Cheema had said that the export could not be allowed without confirming the presence of surplus stock, adding that without the surplus, sugar export could lead to shortage in Pakistan.