Govt plans raw sugar imports to lower prices

Islamabad: The federal government has decided to import raw sugar (shakkar) to help lower the rising sugar prices in the country. The government stated that importing raw sugar would help reduce prices and increase local sugar production, as it can be refined here.

Sugar prices have been steadily rising in recent months, with the average price reaching Rs150.43 per kilogram in February 2025. Since November 2024, sugar prices have gone up by Rs18.58 per kg, a 14.3% increase. Last year, the price was Rs144.47 per kg, meaning the price has risen by about Rs6 per kg over the past year.

This price hike follows the government's decision to allow large-scale sugar exports. Between June and October 2024, the government approved the export of 750,000 metric tonnes of sugar, with an additional 500,000 metric tonnes approved in October. Experts say the rise in prices is due to limited supply and high demand driven by exports.

Despite official price caps, sugar is being sold at even higher prices in several cities, putting extra financial pressure on lower and middle-income families. In Karachi, retail sugar prices range from Rs170 to Rs180 per kg, while the wholesale price is Rs166 per kg. A 50-kg bag of sugar is being sold for Rs8,300. In Quetta, the retail price has gone up by Rs15, reaching Rs180 per kg from Rs165, while the wholesale price stands at Rs175 per kg.

The government's move to import raw sugar aims to ease the situation by increasing supply and helping control prices in the coming months.