The Sindh Chamber of Agriculture has strongly criticised the government's sugar policies and demanded to de-regulate the sugar industry and sugar sector be removed from government control. The Chamber termed the government's decision to import sugar from abroad as an "economic massacre" of sugarcane farmers. It also once again appealed to Sindh farmers not to cultivate wheat in the upcoming 2025-2026 season.
In a press release issued from the Chamber's central headquarters in Hyderabad, the Central Chief Patron and President of the Sindh Chamber of Agriculture Professor Dr Syed Nadeem Qamar criticised the government's policies regarding sugar industries. He demanded that sugar industry must be de-regulated like wheat and other crops, and removed from government intervention.
He further said that the government should avoid importing sugar, as by June 30, the country already had a stockpile of 2.5 million metric tons of sugar, which would be sufficient until mid-November. He noted that sugar mills will be ready to start crushing by October 25, which will ensure fresh supply into the market, thereby saving valuable foreign exchange.
He also highlighted that 80% of sugar is consumed by the corporate sectors, while only 20% is consumed by households. Therefore, keeping sugar prices under government control benefits commercial traders more than household consumers.
He warned that if sugar is imported, it will arrive in Pakistan by the end of October 2025, while the local crushing season begins from November 1. This overlap would result in local farmers not receiving fair prices for their sugarcane crop.
The Sindh Chamber of Agriculture has urged all farmers in Sindh to completely boycott wheat cultivation for the 2025-2026 season, recommending that it be grown only for personal household consumption. The chamber believes that, as in the previous year, wheat growers are likely to incur losses again. The cost of cultivating wheat is more than the income it generates.
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