• Panel said that recent price fluctuations showed RS300BN profits for factories; The president says ‘only 42 families’ benefited
• The reluctance of officials to share names of owners of factories with legislators draws reprimand
• The Committee told RS150m spent from RS1.95Bn assigned for the flood awareness campaign, the rest of the deviant money
Islamabad: In the midst of an increase in the price of sugar, the Public Accounts Committee was informed on Tuesday that Sugar Mills have won RS300 billion due to recent fluctuations in the rates of essential merchandise.
The Pakistan General Auditor made these revelations during the APEX parliamentary panel meeting, which convened the high -risk session to review the import and export policy of sugar, the increase in prices and the lack of transparency in the sugar industry.
The PAC met under the presidency of Junaid Akbar Khan and was informed by the Secretary of Industries and Production Saif Anjum, who declared that the regulation of price and relevant laws fell under provincial jurisdictions.
He revealed that from 2013 to 2023, the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) allowed sugar exports to amount to 5.09 million metric tons, of which 3,927 million tons were exported. In 2023-24 alone, the country had a surplus of 1.3 million tons, and 790,000 tons were authorized for export, said the secretary, added that the price remained “stable.”
However, PAC members expressed serious concern, citing terrestrial realities. President Junaid Akbar Khan and other members, including Omar Ayub and Senator Fauzia Arshad, contradicted government claims about the product.
Omar Ayub reported that the sugar was sold for more than RS200 per kilogram in many regions, while the National Secretary of Food Security, Amir Mohyuddin, maintained the national average of RS173. According to Senator Fauzia Arshad, the sugar had become scarce and uninquerable.
‘Mala management cycle’
Mr. Akbar, meanwhile, criticized the bad management cycle, stating: “Every year we repeat the same drama: first export (sugar), then import it.”
The PTI legislator questioned the lack of transparency, asking: “Who possesses these sugar factories?” The committee had requested a list of owners, but the secretary of the industries said that only the names of the directors were available.
The committee rejected this explanation, demanding complete records. He warned: “No more reports will be accepted without the dissemination of the owners.”
Sugar Advisory Board (SAB) also caused Flak for not regulating the industry effectively. “This is theft in daylight,” said Mna Khawaja Sheraz Mehmood, citing massive profits and poor governance. “RS287 billion have entered some pockets,” said Mna Riaz Fatyana, while others accused the president and prime minister of allegedly protecting the spectors.
The federal officials of the Income Board told the panel that a list of Mills directors had been obtained, but legislators sought a transparency of total property, which led to heated exchanges between the members.
Malik Amir Dogar appointed President Asif Ali Zardari, Jahangir Tareen and the Sharif ruling family as the main interested parties of the sugar factory, which leads to burning arguments with his fellow legislators Shazia Marri, Affanullah Khan and Bilal Commandkhail.
The president of PAC, Junaid Akbar Khan, said that only 42 families benefited from this unexpected mass gain. “Why is anyone else allowed to establish sugar factories?” He questioned, pointing out the concentration of property and lack of competition.
The PAC member, Khawaja Sheraz Mehmood, stressed that sugar was currently available in India with the RS143/Kg equivalent, much cheaper than local prices.
The Secretary of Foods replied that the reduction in sales and other taxes intended to make sugar more affordable. However, he warned that an Import tariff of RS80 per kg would naturally make imported sugar more expensive.
The president of PAC also questioned the justification behind the importation of sugar despite the claims of all the provinces that there was a broad available stock. “If there were enough actions, why was the decision to import it made?” asked.
Regarding sugar shares, officials said there were 1.9 million tons available, which will last until November. However, PAC members expressed concern about the possible deterioration and emphasized the need for careful planning before the next season of crushing. The government had approved the import of 300,000 tons of sugar to stabilize the supply, while promised that it would not affect farmers or involve previous export destinations.
The PAC members reiterated that the problem would not be eliminated until full transparency on the property of the sugar mill and the profit beneficiaries were achieved. Separately, the PAC examined the supplementary subsidy of RS1.95 billion assigned to the Press Information Department for a flood awareness campaign. Audit officials revealed that only RS150 million were spent on the campaign, while the rest was diverted elsewhere. The matter was referred to a subcommittee for research.
Posted in Dawn, July 30, 2025
