Sugar millers in Punjab and Sindh have raised concerns over potential supply shortages and price increases following repeated shutdowns of the Federal Board of Revenue’s (FBR) Track and Trace (T&T) portal.
In a letter to Federal Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb and National Food Security Minister Rana Tanveer Hussain, the Pakistan Sugar Mills Association (PSMA) highlighted that mills in both provinces have faced frequent disruptions as the portal remained non-functional for several days, particularly during September and the past week.
A PSMA spokesperson said the outages have prevented mills from lifting sugar and dispatching it to markets, disrupting supply chains and contributing to rising domestic prices. “If these restrictions continue, the resulting shortfall could lead to further price increases,” the spokesperson warned.
Millers reported that FBR officials stationed at mills, especially in southern Punjab and interior Sindh, have blocked dispatches by denying clearance at mill gates, a practice that the association said has become routine and is aggravating market supply issues.
