The Utility Stores Corporation of Pakistan (USC) has reduced the price of sugar from Rs 65 per kg to Rs 60 per kg with immediate effect across the country. Addressing a press conference here on Wednesday, Utility Stores Corporation Managing Director Muhammad Arif Khan said that the government has doubled the sugar quota at USC outlets to be available in 2 Kg and 5 kg packs for the customers at the subsidized rate of Rs 60 per kg with immediate effect.
Talking about the shortfall of sugar, he said that the last year it was about 1.2 million tons but this year it will remain 0.84 million tons, which would be imported. He added that despite the fact that this year devastating flood has damaged standing crop of sugarcane on a vast area, but recovery level in sugarcane has significantly improved due to which local sugar production would be around 3.46 million tons.
He said that on the directions of Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani and Federal Minister for Industry and Production Mir Hazar Khan Bijrani USC has reduced sugar price as per commitment and would further reduce it in case sugar price is decreasing in the market.
Per capita sugar consumption is highest in Pakistan as annually every Pakistani utilizes 25-kg sugar, he maintained. MD utility Stores Corporation added that in Pakistan sugar was cheaper as compared to other neighbouring countries like Afghanistan, India, Bangladesh and Srilanka, where commodity is being sold in term of Pakistani rupee Rs 120 per kg, Rs 62, Rs 68 and Rs 78 respectively.
Keeping in view the reduction in sugar prices, USC has decided to reduce it in accordance with the earlier decision of government to maintain a difference of Rs 10 per kg between market and USC prices. The MD USC while comparing the prices of sugar with neighbouring countries said that the rate of the commodity is the lowest in Pakistan. He said that in Afghanistan the price of sugar is Rs 120 per kg while its price in India and Bangladesh is Rs 62 and Rs 68 per kg respectively. "It is the cheapest sugar available in our country as compared to other countries in the region," he remarked.
Replying to a question, Arif Khan said that the items available at USC outlets are also good in terms of quality. The USC, he said, is offering subsidy of up to Rs 10 per kg on all its items especially the edibles. He added that price of sugarcane in Punjab is Rs 170 per 40 kg, Sindh Rs 225 and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Rs 225 per 40 kg.
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