The reconstituted Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet, whose first meeting will be held on Tuesday, April 8, may not allow sugar export as two ministries, Minfal and Industries, are doing to oppose the proposal by Pakistan Sugar Mills Association (PSMA), sources told Business Recorder.
"Estimates provided by the PSMA before the start of crushing season regarding surplus commodity has been proved untrue and now the government cannot take the risk to allow its export," said a top government official.
According to official documents, total sugar stock with the PSMA and Trading Corporation of Pakistan (TCP) was about 2.64 million tons so far, and at the end of the crushing season there would not be any surplus quantity for export purposes.
Sources said that the government was also likely to set aside PSMA proposal for fixing ex-factory price of sugar at Rs 29.50 per kg as there was not sufficient evidence that growers had received officially notified price of sugarcane. They said that the ECC would also deliberate on wheat procurement plan, especially after the enhancement of procurement price from Rs 510 to 625 per 40 kg. They said that the ECC would also review the performance of Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP), and Utility Stores Corporation (USC).
The Cabinet Division, which was responsible to arrange ECC meeting after approval of the agenda from Prime Minister, had informed all the concerned ministries to send new summaries, along with the list of their summaries already pending with the Cabinet Division, sources added. "All Secretaries will present details of their previous proposals as well as pending and new summaries for taking decision," sources said.
The Cabinet Division, however, had not delivered formal agenda of the meeting to the concerned Ministers and Secretaries till 8 pm indicating that agenda would be dropped at their residences. One official, when contacted for comments over this situation, said it appeared that the Cabinet Division did not want that participants should go through the proposals of the ministries to be placed before the ECC.