Wholesale sugar prices drop sharply in Karachi, Punjab

Wholesale sugar prices show a clear downward trend nationwide following strict government measures to curb hoarding, speculation and artificial price hikes. The impact is most evident in major markets, particularly Karachi and Punjab, where prices have recorded a significant drop.

In Karachi, sugar prices have fallen sharply, with rates dropping from Rs200 per kilogram to Rs150 per kilogram. Market sources say the wholesale price has declined further to Rs146 per kilogram, reflecting improved supply and tighter market regulation.

Similar relief has been seen in Punjab, where the wholesale price of sugar has dropped to Rs145 per kilogram. Wholesale Grocers Association chairperson Abdul Rauf Ibrahim confirmed the decline, saying government interventions had played a key role in stabilising the market and discouraging profiteering.

Read: Wholesalers call sugar price hike an ‘artificial crisis’

Ibrahim said forward sugar deals were now being booked at Rs135 per kilogram, signalling expectations of further price declines in the coming weeks. He added that continued government action and the ongoing sugarcane crushing season could push prices lower, potentially to Rs100 per kilogram.

Market insiders attributed the price decline to ample sugar stocks nationwide, with large quantities currently stored to ensure an uninterrupted supply. In addition to domestic production, about 150,000 tonnes of imported sugar are available in warehouses, further easing pressure on prices.

Traders said sustained monitoring, strict action against hoarding and steady crushing operations would help maintain price stability. Consumers welcomed the reduction, expressing hope that the fall in wholesale prices would soon translate into lower retail rates.