ISLAMABAD: The federal government has intensified efforts to provide relief to the people of Pakistan during the holy month of Ramadan, directing all provinces to ensure the provision of sugar at Rs130 per kg.
Minister for Industries and Production Rana Tanveer Hussain instructed the chief secretaries of all provinces to establish sugar stalls at the municipal council level and ensure uninterrupted supply of the commodity at the government-set price.
These directives were issued while he chaired a meeting of the Sugar Advisory Board in Islamabad, according to a press release issued on Friday.
Tanveer emphasized that the Pakistan Sugar Mills Association (PSMA) and provincial governments must ensure easy access to sugar for the public.
Around 230 sugar stalls will be set up in Sindh with the cooperation of the provincial government, while 405 selling points have been designated in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Hundreds of sugar stalls will also be established in Punjab and Balochistan.
Provincial governments have been assigned responsibilities for security, cleanliness, and crowd management, while the federal government will form a committee to address any potential issues.
The price of sugar in the wholesale market has increased from Rs136 to Rs148 per kg, while retailers are selling it at Rs160 per kg.
Despite the ongoing sugarcane crushing season in the country, sugar prices have been rising. Since the beginning of 2025, prices have continued to climb, with an increase of Rs10 to 15 per kg over the past one and a half months.
Separately, the industries minister informed the Senate that the federal government has prepared a Ramadan Package worth Rs20 billion, which will be provided in cash directly to around four million deserving people.
Responding to concerns raised by PPP leaders Shahdat Awan and Sherry Rehman, Tanveer told the House that provincial governments are also following the same cash transfer model for the Ramadan package.
He further stated that the Utility Stores Corporation (USC) would be restructured to enhance its efficiency and performance, adding that there were no plans to shut it down.
