ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s National Food Security Minister Rana Tanveer Hussain on Monday dismissed reports of sugar price hikes in the country as consumers complained of higher rates of the commodity in Ramadan than the price fixed by the government.
Pakistan’s government capped the sugar price at Rs130 per kilogram, but market rates have remained above Rs180 per kg since January. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif this month formed a 10-member committee, led by Deputy PM Ishaq Dar, to negotiate price reduction with the Pakistan Sugar Mills Association (PSMA).
Last week, Dar announced a fixed retail price of Rs164 per kg until April 15, following talks with the PMSA. He also formed a sub-committee under Hussain to find a permanent solution to the issue and explore a possible two-tier pricing mechanism, ensuring that the public pays less while the industry pays more for sugar. The committee has been tasked with submitting its report by mid-April.
“The media is reporting that the price of sugar in the market is Rs180 ($0.64) per kilogram, which is not true as there is no such situation,” Hussain told reporters in Islamabad.
“Under no circumstances will the retail price be allowed to exceed Rs164 per kilogram and the ex-mill price will not go beyond Rs159 per kilogram.”
The PSMA has set up stalls across the country during the holy fasting month of Ramadan, where sugar is being sold at Rs130 per kilogram, according to the minister. It is available at Rs153 per kilogram at the government-run Utility Stores.
Hussain warned of strict action to ensure fair pricing of the commodity.
“The federal government, in cooperation with provincial authorities, will take firm action against anyone attempting to inflate sugar prices,” he said.
Sohail Shehzad, the secretary-general of the PSMA Punjab chapter, said the millers were providing sugar at the price fixed by the government, though issues might persist in areas where fresh supply had not yet arrived.
“As directed by the Government, the sugar industry is charging ex-mill prices as per the benchmark of Rs154 to Rs159,” he told Arab News.
“Retail rates have also come down to almost Rs164 with few exceptions of far-flung areas where fresh supplies on new rates have not yet reached.”
Arab News spoke with customers at various markets in the federal capital of Islamabad, who confirmed buying sugar at Rs180 per kilogram, Rs16 above the government price.
“I do not understand how the government claims the retail price of sugar is fixed at Rs164 per kilogram, when I am still buying it for Rs180,” Muhammad Javed, an electrician, told Arab News, holding a bag of groceries in his hands.
“No shop in my area is selling it at the official price and there is no proper enforcement.”
He lamented that the authorities announce price caps, but retailers keep charging whatever they want.
“If the government is serious about controlling prices, they need to ensure availability at the fixed rate, not just make statements,” Javed said.
Sumeera Ramzan, another consumer, said the government had made the price announcement and assumed the issue would be resolved, while sugar continued to be sold at Rs180 per kg in the market.
“As a housewife, managing the household budget is becoming increasingly difficult with these rising prices,” she told Arab News.
Shehbaz Rana, a journalist covering economic issues, said the crisis stemmed from the government’s decision to allow the export of 750,000 metric tons of sugar last year, along with nearly 50,000 metric tons sent to a Central Asian country under a government-to-government agreement.
“In total, around 800,000 metric tons of sugar were allowed for export and as a result, sugar mills profited from the international market, selling at higher prices,” he told Arab News.
Rana said the government lacks an effective mechanism to control market prices.
“Whenever price caps are imposed on any product or commodity, they often have counterproductive effects leading to increased hoarding and speculation,” he said, adding that the solution lied in holding sugar mills accountable, especially those that were allowed to export but were now failing to maintain agreed prices.
“The government should allow both imports and exports freely, letting market forces regulate the supply.”
But Food Security Minister Hussain said it was “completely incorrect” to suggest that sugar prices increased due to the government’s decision to allow exports last year.
“In 2023, Pakistan had a sugar stock of 7.6 million metric tons, while domestic consumption was only 6.3 million metric tons,” he said, adding that this left a surplus of approximately 1.5 million metric tons, of which only 700,000 metric tons were exported.
“This export earned Pakistan a valuable foreign exchange of $400 million.”
This year, Hussain said, sugarcane cultivation increased by 2 percent as compared to last year and initial projections indicated that sugar production would be higher, however, sugarcane yields remained lower than expected due to the impact of climate change and as a result, sugar production stood at 6 million metric tons this year.
“However, with a carryover stock of around 500,000 metric tons from last year, the total available stock is 6.5 million metric tons — still more than the country’s consumption needs,” he said, reiterating there was no sugar shortage and rather, the country had a surplus.
“We will not tolerate this misinformation campaign as there is no pressure on the sugar market, nor are prices as high as some claim,” he said, adding that the government was committed to ensuring price stability and preventing any artificial inflation.
Pakistan government denies sugar price hikes as consumers complain of higher rates in Ramadan
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Pakistan government denies sugar price hikes as consumers complain of higher rates in Ramadan
- Islamabad last week announced a fixed price of Rs164 per kg until April 15, but consumers say they have been paying as high as Rs180 per kg
- Analysts believe the current sugar price crisis stems from the government’s decision to allow export of 800,000 tons of sugar last year
Pakistan’s Usman Khan ruled out of second ODI against New Zealand
- The 29-year-old opening batter sustained a hamstring injury while fielding in the first match against New Zealand on Friday
- New Zealand eased to a 73-run win over Pakistan after Mark Chapman struck a sublime century, Nathan Smith claimed four wickets
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan have ruled out opener Usman Khan from the second one-day international (ODI) against New Zealand owing to a hamstring injury, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said on Sunday.
The 29-year-old opening batter sustained the injury while fielding during his side’s first ODI against New Zealand at the Mclean Park in Napier on Friday.
“The MRI scan confirmed a Low-Grade tear, making Usman unavailable for second ODI scheduled on 2 April at Seddon Park in Hamilton,” the PCB said.
New Zealand eased to a 73-run win over Pakistan in the first ODI after Mark Chapman struck a sublime century and Nathan Smith claimed four wickets.
The recalled Babar Azam top-scored for Pakistan with 78 off 83 balls but it was his dismissal that started the rot.
Both teams feature numerous changes to those who played out a five-match T20 series, won 4-1 by New Zealand.
Pakistan’s decision to expel refugees has ‘shaken’ Afghan community, UNHCR official says
- Islamabad has set a deadline of Mar. 31 for registered Afghan refugees to leave Pakistan
- The UNHCR official calls on world to share responsibility, says ‘stability comes at a cost’
KARACHI: A top official of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Pakistan on Sunday said Islamabad’s decision to expel refugees has “shaken” the Afghan community in the country, urging the international community to keep step up and share the responsibility.
Pakistan this month announced that that Afghan Citizen Card (ACC) holders must leave the country by March 31, which coincides with Eid Al-Fitr. According to UN data, Pakistan hosts more than 2.8 million Afghans, many of whom fled decades of war and instability in their home country. Around 1.3 million of them are formally registered as refugees and hold Proof of Registration (PoR) cards, which grant them legal protections.
Another 800,000 Afghans possess ACCs, a separate identity document issued by the Pakistani government that recognizes them as Afghan nationals without offering refugee status, according to the UNHCR. With the government now requiring ACC holders to leave by March 31, these 800,000 Afghans face the prospect of being forcibly returned to a country many have never even seen.
“For nearly five decades, millions of Afghans have come and gone from Pakistan, fleeing waves of violence since 1979 and returning home under mixed circumstances over the years. Some have chosen to repatriate voluntarily, while others have felt compelled to do so,” UNHCR representative in Pakistan Philippa Candler said on Sunday.
“Recent Government announcements about departure deadlines have again shaken the Afghan community in Pakistan.”
The move is part of a larger repatriation drive for foreign citizens that began in 2023, following a string of suicide attacks that Islamabad said involved a number of Afghan nationals. Over 800,000 Afghans have since been expelled from Pakistan.
In 2023, the Pakistani government said it was first focusing on expelling foreigners with no legal documentation and other categories like ACC holders would be included later.
Candler said it was “heartbreaking” to see how fearful these ACC-holders are of their forced return, adding that “their hopes and dreams have been shattered.”
She said Pakistan’s continued support for Afghan refugees, who have become woven into the fabric of Pakistan’s society, is “admirable” but undeniably a challenge for the host state.
“Healthcare, education, and other public services are often overburdened, and host communities are feeling the strain. Pakistan is stuck in a tough spot – balancing the needs of its own people, dealing with a growing security challenge, and shouldering the financial impact of hosting refugees,” she said.
“At the same time, the world expects Pakistan to keep delivering. The international community needs to keep stepping up and acknowledge that this stability comes at a cost, and that the responsibility must be shared.”
The situation requires a multifaceted approach, according to the UNHCR official. Pakistan and Afghanistan must work together to make sure that Afghan refugees can voluntarily and safely return home.
She called for a “sustainable return” of Afghan refugees, saying that many of those forced to return in 2023 were back in Pakistan again.
“Sustainable return means creating a peaceful and secure environment in Afghanistan, so refugees don’t have to fear persecution or discrimination when they go back. For Afghans who cannot return safely for the moment, efforts must be made in Pakistan to expand access to education, health care, and employment opportunities, while also granting them legal recognition and protection under international refugee law,” Candler said.
“The international community has a significant role to play. The responsibility on Pakistan should not be borne alone. Humanitarian aid needs to continue, not just to provide short-term relief but to support long-term development programs. Promises were made for the relocation of Afghans who entered the country since 2021. While many Afghans have left to third countries, thousands still remain in limbo in Pakistan. UNHCR is calling for their speedy departures, which means a durable solution and stability for the refugees.”
Middle class families head to Karachi’s Kagzi Bazar for ‘affordable’ shopping on eve of Eid
- 50-year-old market is located in densely populated area of old city of Karachi
- Buyers and sellers both say prices are more affordable than at other markets
KARACHI: Amid Ramadan price hikes and low wage growth across households on the eve of Eid Al-Fitr, there is one safe haven for middle- and working-class shoppers in the Pakistani megacity of Karachi: Kagzi Bazar.
The at least 50-year-old market in the heart of old Karachi, one of the most densely populated areas in the city of over 20 million people, offers a wide range of goods including clothes, jewelry, footwear, bangles, hand bags and other accessories at affordable prices, buyers and sellers told Arab News ahead of the Eid Al-Fitr holiday.
The Pakistan government has announced Eid holidays from Monday, Mar. 31 to Wednesday, Apr. 2.
“It’s comfortable for us in terms of affordability. This market is within our budget, we can’t go to other markets,” Zainab Shafiq, a housewife and mother of two who has been shopping at Kagzi Bazar since she was a child, told Arab News.
“My entire family, including my in-laws as well as my own family, shop here,” she added as she browsed through glittery sandals and bangles at a roadside stall.
Pakistan was beset by inflation above 20 percent since May 2022, registering a high of 38 percent in May 2023, as it navigated reforms under an International Monetary Fund bailout program. While the annual inflation rate slowed to 1.5 percent this February, the lowest in nearly a decade, and the prices of goods are now rising more slowly, the cost of living has not become more affordable in the absence of wage growth for most households.
That is why many middle class and low-income families turn to Kagzi Bazar for Eid shopping over other markets like Tariq Road and Gulf Market in Karachi.
“The prices here are quite reasonable compared to other markets, that’s why we shop here,” 9th grader Mehek Fatima, who was visiting the market with her mother, said.
“Malls have the same variety but the prices here are reasonable compared to them.”
Mohammad Haroon Abdullah, who has been running a garment shop in Kagzi Bazar for the last 25 years, said people visited the market from different parts of Karachi and even from outside the Sindh province because of cheaper rates.
“The entire Balochistan, interior Sindh [provinces] come to shop here,” he said. “The entire Lyari [neighborhood], customers from Keamari, Saddar, New Karachi and so many other localities come to us. Even people who have shifted from this locality come from Soldier Bazar and Garden.”
Indeed, the low prices have been bringing loyal customers to Kagzi Bazar for decades.
“He is more like my brother,” Shenila Abdul Ghaffar told Arab News, pointing toward the owner of a cosmetics shop.
“For almost 28 years, I have been coming to this shop and buying everything from here. My children, daughter-in-law, everyone shops here,” she added.
“At a time when inflation rate is high, it’s easier for us to adjust with our budget here.”
Shawwal crescent sighted, Pakistan to mark Eid Al-Fitr today
- Eid Al-Fitr begins on the first day of the month of Shawwal in the Islamic lunar calendar
- It is one of two major Muslim festivals that marks end of holy fasting month of Ramadan
ISLAMABAD: The crescent for the month of Shawwal was sighted in Pakistan on Sunday and consequently, Eid Al-Fitr will be celebrated on Monday, March 31, the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee announced.
The three-day Eid Al-Fitr festival starts on the first day of the month of Shawwal in the Islamic lunar calendar. The festival marks the end of the holy fasting month of Ramadan.
The Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee, the country’s apex moon-sighting body, met in Islamabad under the chairmanship of Maulana Abdul Khabir Azad for the sighting of the Shawwal crescent.
“[We] received testimonies of the sighting of the Shawwal moon from various areas of Pakistan today, which include Lahore, Bahawalpur, Islamabad, Sheikhupura, Kasur and other areas,” Maulana Azad announced at a press conference.
“Hence, it was decided with consensus that the first of Shawwal will be on March 31, Monday.”
Pakistan’s government this week announced a three-day holiday from Mar. 31 till Apr. 2 on account of the Muslim festival of Eid Al-Fitr.
The Shawwal moon was sighted in Saudi Arabia on Saturday, marking the end of the month of Ramadan. Eid Al-Fitr is being celebrated in the Kingdom, United Arab Emirates and other Middle Eastern countries today.
Azerbaijan economy minister to visit Pakistan next week to finalize key investment deals
- Cash-strapped Pakistan is currently navigating a tricky path to recovery under a $7 billion International Monetary Fund bailout program
- The South Asian country has been making efforts to generate revenue through increased trade and investment deals with friendly nations
ISLAMABAD: Azerbaijan Minister of the Economy Mikayil Jabbarov will visit Pakistan next week to finalize key investment agreements between the two countries, the Pakistan prime minister’s office said on Sunday.
The statement came after Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif’s telephonic conversation with Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev on the occasion of Eid Al-Fitr, in which he conveyed his greetings and warm wishes to the brotherly people of Azerbaijan.
The two leaders reaffirmed their resolve to further strengthen the deep-rooted fraternal ties between the two countries and build upon the Sharif’s visit to Baku last month, according to the Pakistan premier’s office.
“The two leaders agreed that the Minister of Economy of Azerbaijan would visit Islamabad in the first week of April to hold discussions with the Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister and also pay a courtesy call on the Prime Minister,” Sharif’s office said.
“This visit would ensure finalization of the key investment agreements between both sides thus setting the stage for President Ilham Aliyev’s expected visit to Islamabad in the month of April.”
During his visit to Baku in Feb., Sharif had announced the two nations would sign deals in April to boost bilateral investments to $2 billion. Multiple agreements for cooperation in the trade, energy, tourism, education and other sectors were also signed during the visit.
The developments come as cash-strapped Pakistan navigates a tricky path to economic recovery under a $7 billion International Monetary Fund (IMF) program. The South Asian country has been making efforts to generate revenue through increased trade and investment deals with friendly nations and regional and international allies, focusing on export-led growth.
In September last year, Azerbaijan bought JF-17 Block III fighter jets from Pakistan, reportedly in a $1.6bn deal.
During President Aliyev’s visit to Pakistan last year, a joint committee was set up to materialize projects in trade, commerce, information technology, tourism, telecommunication, mineral resources and other sectors. Sharif said at the time the current trade volume of $100 million did not reflect the “true” trade potential between the two countries.
