Sugar dealers have demanded of the government to allow the purchase of the commodity from the open markets of Sindh and the Punjab to ensure supply and price stability of the commodity in the province. This demand was made by the Sugar Dealers Association, Peshawar, at a press conference, which was addressed by its President, Haji Shakirullah.
Vice President of the association, Shah Zaman Khattak, and General Secretary, Wisal Mohammad, were also present. He said sugar millers had stopped the supply of the commodity to the market, therefore, they should be allowed to buy it from open market.
He dispelled the impression about the shortage of sugar in the province. However, he questioned transparency in the distribution process of the commodity. He called for the distribution of the commodity through the dealers. Presently, he said, "Irrelevant people purchase sugar from trucks and then sell it in black market on higher price."
The Sugar Dealers Association held the Pakistan Sugar Mills Association (PSMA) responsible for the prevailing sugar crisis in the country and demanded of the government to intervene into the matter and bring sugar millers' monopoly to an end.
Haji Shakirullah said, for the distribution of sugar, Peshawar had been divided into 18 sectors and each sector was getting 12 tons of sugar or 94 bags daily against the demand of 10,000 bags to 12,000 bags. He said 100-kilogram bag of the commodity was available at the rate of Rs 4,500 in Sindh and the Punjab. "The transportation charges are Rs 150 per bag from Punjab and Rs 210 per bag from Sindh. The purchase of the commodity from the open market of Sindh and the Punjab will make no difference in the price," he added.
He said sugar dealers were not responsible for the present sugar crisis in the city, claiming that this situation emerged after the sugar mills association, hoarders and profiteers stocked sugar before the holy month of Ramazan. He demanded of the government to take strict action against sugar mill owners, who were indulged in hoarding. He said sugar was being supplied to the people under the supervision of the Revenue Department's officials, who monitored the procedure of distribution in local markets.
Comments
Comments are closed.