Sugar Shortage Hits Rawalpindi
Sugar Shortage Hits Rawalpindi and Nearby Districts as Prices Soar
RAWALPINDI – Despite official claims of adequate supply, sugar has virtually vanished from wholesale and retail markets across Rawalpindi, causing widespread concern among consumers. Reports from local traders confirm that both small shops and large wholesalers are running out of stock.
In retail markets, sugar is now being sold at inflated prices ranging from Rs190 to Rs200 per kilogram. At the wholesale level, a 50-kg bag has surged to as high as Rs9,300. The crisis is not limited to Rawalpindi alone—shortages have also been reported in Attock, Chakwal, and Talagang.
Mill owners have attributed the supply disruption to depleted reserves and halted distribution chains. In response, the district administration has launched a crackdown to stabilize the market. Heavy fines are being imposed on shopkeepers over profiteering, while the central traders’ association has called an emergency meeting to discuss the crisis.
Meanwhile, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has raised serious objections to Pakistan’s plan to subsidize imported sugar. The government intended to offer a subsidy of Rs 55 per kilogram on imported sugar priced at Rs 249 per kg, but the IMF has expressed concern that such fiscal measures could jeopardize the ongoing $7 billion loan program.
IMF Raises Concerns Over Import Subsidy Amid Local Crisis
Sources indicate that the IMF also rejected the justification that sugar import subsidies fall under “food emergency” protocols. A major point of contention is the likelihood that imported sugar will benefit industrial users more than ordinary households, undermining the intended public interest.
As sugar prices spiral and the market remains unstable, both local consumers and global financial stakeholders are keeping a close watch on how the government navigates this growing crisis.
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