LAHORE: Sugar continued to be sold at Rs 100 and above in the city markets on Monday despite the government’s announcement of fixing the ex-mill rate at Rs 80 per kilogram and retail prices at Rs 85 per kilogram.

Akbar Butt, Lahore Sugar Dealers Association (LSDA) President and a wholesaler at the leading wholesale market of the provincial market, Akbari Mandi, on contact said they had not received any sugar from the district administration Monday at Rs 80. He said that no wholesaler Monday had any stocks of white refined commodity.

However, he said they had received a message from the DCO Lahore that new stocks would reach Akbari Mandi between the night of Monday and Tuesday. He hoped that once the stocks having ex-mill price of Rs 80 reached the market, it would be sold at Rs 82 per kilogram in wholesale.

Hamid Akmal, another wholesaler said those traders were selling sugar at Rs 800 per 50 kilograms who had some left over from the supplies made by the government during last three to four days. He also said that new supplies on the government notified rates were yet to reach the wholesale market. Naveed Shafiq, a retailer said people were selling sugar from Rs 100-105 per kilogram.

Meanwhile, provincial food department sources said they were taking steps to ensure supply of sugar at the government notified rates and where needed steps were taken to direct sugar mills to provide the required quantity on notified rates.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2021