Sugarcane is an important cash crop of Pakistan. It is grown on a large area of the country. 88 sugar mills have been established for manufacture of sugar from sugarcane grown in the country. Also, some portion of the crop is used for production of gurr especially in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP). Pakistan is the world's fifth largest producer and eighth largest consumer of sugar. The sugar industry is the second largest agriculture based industry after textile.

According to some media reports, the Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) has asked the Federal Ministry of Commerce and FBR to issue a separate HS code for export of gurr (jaggery).The demand was made by Gurr Mandi Association, Peshawar, during a meeting with SCCI president. The meeting was informed that the Customs authorities have included gurr (jaggery) in a code actually meant for sugar and brown sugar. It needs to be emphasized that gurr (jaggery) is an agro-based organic product produced widely around sugarcane producing areas across South Asia and Africa from sugarcane juice.

It merits a mention that a large share of gurr (jaggery) produced in KP is exported to Afghanistan and creating hurdles in its exports would inflict losses on its traders through demurrages incurred through blocked trucks at Torkham due to errorneous inclusion of gurr (jaggery) in the code for sugar and brown sugar.

In view of the above, the Federal Ministry of Commerce and FBR is requested to give an urgent consideration to the matter so that the export of gurr to Afghanistan is not adversely affected.

KHAN FARAZ, (HAYATABAD, PESHAWAR.)

Copyright Business Recorder, 2020