The National Assembly Standing Committee on Industry and Production took serious notice of increase in sugar price in the open market and its non-availability in different parts of the country. The committee met with Ghous Bux Khan Mahar, MNA/Chairman in the chair here on Monday.
The Committee directed the Ministry of Industries to formulate a comprehensive policy to overcome the sugar scam. The committee also expressed its concern over the delay in crushing season by sugar mills, which has provided opportunity to the stock hoarders to make money.
The Committee asked that TCP may involve private sector for import of raw sugar to meet local requirements and also formulate a monitoring committee to keep check on the importers. However, the committee appreciated the Government on withdrawing 25 percent duty on import of raw sugar, which would surely urge the local investors to invest their money in this sector.
Earlier, Abdul Ghaffar Soomro, Secretary, Ministry of Industries and Production briefed the committee about various reasons behind the sugar crisis in the country eg 1.2 million ton short fall in the production of sugar, increase in prices in the international market and delay in crushing season. He apprised the committee that the sugar is available in USC outlets @ Rs 65 per kg on subsidised rates.
Mir Hazar Khan Bijarani, Minister for Industries and Production, the MNAs Mir Munawar Ali Talpur, Arif Aziz Shaikh, Dr Mahesh Kumar Malani, Javaid Iqbal Warraich, Dr Abdul Wahid Soomro, Sabeen Rizvi, Sahibzada Syed Murtaza Amin, Haji Muhammad Akram Ansari, Hamid Yar Hiraj, Abdul Waseem, and Senior officers from the Ministry were also present in the meeting.-PR