A three-member committee has been constituted to probe the recent countrywide hike in sugar prices.
According to a document issued by the Prime Minister’s Office, the committee, which was formed by Prime Minister Imran Khan on Friday, will comprise the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) director general, a representative of the Intelligence Bureau not below grade 20/21, and the Punjab Anti-Corruption Establishment director general.
The committee has been tasked to ensure efficient monitoring of sugar production, its pricing, industry malpractices (market manipulation/cartelization) and impact on farmers etc.
“The committee will also identify and fix responsibility, if any, on any individual/officer/organisation, including any purported benefit to a private party, besides suggesting a way forward for future course of action,” the statement read.
On February 7, the premier had approved a summary to ban the export of sugar and to allow the import of 300,000 tonnes sugar through the private sector in a bid to stabilise domestic prices.
Subsequently, on February 10, the Economic Coordination Committee okayed the PM’s decision to ban sugar exports but decided against importing the commodity.
