Sugar crisis looms as grocers defy new policy

RAWALPINDI:

Wholesale sugar dealers and the Punjab Grocery Merchants Association have decisively rejected the government's new sugar procurement and supply policy and initiated a complete strike by hoisting black flags at retail shops as a sign of protest.

In a collective decision, the grocers have halted all purchases from sugar mills until their demands are met, raising fears of an imminent and severe sugar shortage across Punjab in the coming days. Grocery shopkeepers and wholesale sugar dealers have categorically refused to deposit payments directly into sugar mills' accounts, calling the measure "unworkable."

For 10 days now, no sugar has been procured from mills, with retailers surviving on dwindling stocks that are now barely sufficient for another seven to 10 days.