Sugar price soars by Rs 23.42 in just 12 weeks

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Bureau of Statistics has released data on sugar prices, which have increased over the past 12 weeks, here on Saturday.

According to PBS, sugar prices have increased by Rs23.42 per kilogram over the past 12 weeks.

The data shows that the price of sugar has increased from Rs131.85 per kilogram to Rs155.27 per kilogram. In some cities, prices have reached Rs165 per kilogram.

Consumers in Islamabad and Peshawar are paying the highest price for sugar, which is priced at Rs165 per kilogram. In Rawalpindi, Lahore, Multan and Karachi, sugar is available for Rs160 per kilogram.

PBS data also revealed that sugar prices vary across cities, with Quetta, Sialkot and Khuzdar recording prices of Rs160, Rs158 and Rs158 per kg respectively.

Sugar is priced at Rs155 per kg in other cities including Gujranwala, Faisalabad and Bahawalpur.

This development comes after the federal government decided to provide sugar at Rs130 per kg during Ramadan.

Minister for Industries and Production Rana Tanveer Hussain directed the chief secretaries of all provinces to set up sugar stalls at the municipal council level and ensure uninterrupted supply of the item at Rs130 during Ramadan.

Earlier, a report had said that the government had allegedly failed to convince millers to reduce sugar prices ahead of the holy month of Ramadan.

Sources said that according to details, the government of Pakistan is trying to reduce the prices of sugar but the millers are not interested in it.

Currently, sugar is being sold at Rs 155 per kg, but the government wants to reduce its price to Rs 120 per kg. However, the sugar millers maintain that the price of the commodity per kg is Rs 170.

They further said that the sugar millers demanded that the government remove the 18 percent General Sales Tax (GST) on sugar as this is the only way to reduce the prices by Rs 25 per kg.