Lahore: Another bad news for inflation stricken people, the price of sugar re increased for the third time in a week in Lahore.
According to details, after flour, sugar has also become expensive in the open market, with a third increase in the price of sugar during the week, it is now being sold in the market for 130 rupees per kilogram.
According to sources, a bag of 50 kilograms of sugar in the wholesale market increased from 5700 to 6150 rupees. Shopkeepers said that sugar was becoming expensive due to the mafia’s influence.
On the other hand, citizens said that the use of sugar increases during the month of fasting, and the government has also made it expensive. The public, who are suffering from inflation, have demanded from the government to take strict action against the mafias so that the rising prices can be controlled.
Earlier this week, Minister for Commerce Naveed Qamar informed the National Assembly that there was no shortage of sugar in the country
Naveed Qamar said they exported 170 million metric tons of sugar to Afghanistan, Central Asian States, and other countries.
“Despite export of 170 million metric tons of sugar, there is no shortage in the country,” said the minister while speaking on the floor of the house on Wednesday.
He also claimed that the country had capacity for further sugar exports.
Minister of State for Finance Aisha Ghaus Pasha expressed regret that the previous government did not fulfill the commitments and understanding reached with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). However, she remained confident that a staff-level agreement would be achieved with the international lender.
The Minister of State highlighted that Pakistan had already met the prior actions, and now the IMF wants the country to fulfill the external funding requirements before releasing the next tranche. She also informed the House that China had recently rolled over a loan, and there was progress in securing support from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
Regarding the implementation of a minimum wage of 25,000 rupees, the Chair requested the Standing Committee on Finance to seek reports from all departments. The National Assembly passed the Kalam Bibi International Women Institute, Bannu bill, 2023, and the National Accountability Amendment Bill 2023 was laid before the House by Minister of State for Law Shahadat Awan.
