ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Friday approved a summary to ban the export of sugar.
The move comes in the wake to address the shortfall between the demand and supply of sugar in the country. With this decision, the export of 350,000 tonnes of sugar will be halted.
The summary, after approval of from the prime minister, has been forwarded to the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC).
The price of sugar, an essential ingredient in Pakistani cuisine, witnessed Rs10 per kilogram hike during the recent weeks; the wholesale rate of the commodity rose from Rs64 to Rs74 per kg, causing an acute shortage across the country.
Earlier, a petition was filed in the Lahore High Court seeking a forensic audit of sugar stocks in the mills.
“The sugar mills have failed to submit details of their stocks in court, despite the court order,” the petition read. “The Punjab government has so far not acted against the sugar mafia.”
The petitioner had also pleaded the court to issue an order to the government for action against the mills selling sugar on exorbitant rates.
