ISLAMABAD: The federal government has stepped up efforts to provide relief to the people of Pakistan during the holy month of Ramadan, issuing instructions to the provinces to provide sugar at Rs130 per kg.
Minister for Industries and Production Rana Tanveer Hussain directed 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.
The minister issued the remarks while chairing a meeting of the Sugar Advisory Board in Islamabad, stated a press release issued on Friday.
Tanveer emphasised that the Pakistan Sugar Mills Association (PSMA) and provincial governments must ensure that sugar is accessible to the masses.
Around 230 sugar stalls would be set up in Sindh with the cooperation of the provincial government, while 405 selling points have been identified for sugar stalls in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Hundreds of sugar stalls will also be set up in Punjab and Balochistan.
Provincial governments have been given the responsibility for security, cleanliness, and crowd management while the federal government will form a committee to resolve any potential issues.
The price of sugar in the wholesale market has increased from Rs136 to Rs148, while it is being sold at Rs160 per kg by retailers, The News reported.
Sugar prices have been creeping up for a while despite the ongoing sugarcane crushing season in the country. Since the onset of 2025, prices have continued to rise and in the past one and half months, the price of sugar has increased by Rs10 to 15 per kg.
Separately, the industries minister informed the Senate that a Ramadan Package worth Rs20 billion has been prepared by the federal government this year, which he said, would be provided in cash directly to about four million deserving people.
Responding to the points raised by PPP leaders Shahdat Awan and Sherry Rehman, Tanveer told the House that the provincial governments are also following the same cash transfer model for the Ramadan package.
He said Utility Stores Corporation will be restructured to enhance its performance and efficiency, adding that the USC would not be closed down.
— With additional input from APP