Sugar being sold in black market
70 percent of subsidised sugar being sold in black market with connivance of wholesalers and food inspectors.
ISLAMABAD:
Around 70 percent of the subsidised sugar provided by the administration to the federal capital is being sold in the black market with connivance of wholesalers and food inspectors, it has been learnt.
The government had subsidised sugar for wholesalers with the aim of fixing its retail price at Rs72 amid skyrocketing prices in the open market.
Amir Wahid, a sugar dealer, has been given the task on the directives of Deputy Commissioner Islamabad Amir Ali Ahmed to provide subsidised sugar to the twin cities. He is bound to make the commodity available at Rs68.50 per kg to wholesalers, who would then sell it for Rs69 per kg.
In the sale points, it should be sold at Rs72. However, it is available at Rs80 to Rs82 per kg.
There are as many as 64 registered wholesalers in the twin cities, out of whom, 38 are in Rawalpindi and 26 in Islamabad.
Other than these registered wholesale dealers, sugar is also being provided at different places with no official record of the supply.
Two days earlier, sugar was provided for the twin cities, but was scarce in the market on Sunday.
Sugar supplier Amir Waheed said Trading Corporation of Pakistan provides 1000 tonnes of sugar daily to the twin cities and there is no shortage of the commodity. He added that TCP asked the supplier to lift the required sugar from Karachi, but there a transportation problem during Eid holidays which led to a shortage on Sunday.
He added that fresh supply would be available within two to three days. This supply would only be sold in the twin cities, even though traders of Azad Jammu and Kashmir had also requested for supply.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 23rd, 2010.
Around 70 percent of the subsidised sugar provided by the administration to the federal capital is being sold in the black market with connivance of wholesalers and food inspectors, it has been learnt.
The government had subsidised sugar for wholesalers with the aim of fixing its retail price at Rs72 amid skyrocketing prices in the open market.
Amir Wahid, a sugar dealer, has been given the task on the directives of Deputy Commissioner Islamabad Amir Ali Ahmed to provide subsidised sugar to the twin cities. He is bound to make the commodity available at Rs68.50 per kg to wholesalers, who would then sell it for Rs69 per kg.
In the sale points, it should be sold at Rs72. However, it is available at Rs80 to Rs82 per kg.
There are as many as 64 registered wholesalers in the twin cities, out of whom, 38 are in Rawalpindi and 26 in Islamabad.
Other than these registered wholesale dealers, sugar is also being provided at different places with no official record of the supply.
Two days earlier, sugar was provided for the twin cities, but was scarce in the market on Sunday.
Sugar supplier Amir Waheed said Trading Corporation of Pakistan provides 1000 tonnes of sugar daily to the twin cities and there is no shortage of the commodity. He added that TCP asked the supplier to lift the required sugar from Karachi, but there a transportation problem during Eid holidays which led to a shortage on Sunday.
He added that fresh supply would be available within two to three days. This supply would only be sold in the twin cities, even though traders of Azad Jammu and Kashmir had also requested for supply.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 23rd, 2010.