Coalition govt okays sugar exports to facilitate elites; nationals brace for impact

The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) chaired by Finance Minister Ishaq Dar has given permission to export 100,000 metric tons of sugar. The move might please the elites owning sugar mills, however, it may increase troubles for the nationals in the shape of a sugar crisis and rising prices of sugary products. 

The Finance Minister decided on the summary of the sugar export of the Ministry of Food Security and allowed the export of 100,000 metric tons of sugar. According to the sources of the Ministry of Finance, the ECC approved the export of sugar from Pakistan every fortnight.

The statement said that the ECC might also approve further export of sugar after reviewing the stocks. According to the sources, the next meeting of the ECC will consider allowing more Chinese exports.

According to information available to US360, most of the country’s sugar mills are owned by ruling families in the federal or provincial states.

The sugar mills owned by Asif Ali Zardari’s family and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leaders are Ansari Sugar Mills, Mirza Sugar Mills, Pangrio Sugar Mills, Sakrand Sugar Mills and Kiran Sugar Mills. Ashraf Sugar mills is owned by PPP leader Ch Zaka Ashraf.

The mills owned by Nawaz Sharif’s family and relatives are Abdullah Sugar Mills, Brother Sugar Mills, Channar Sugar Mills, Chaudhry Sugar Mills, Haseeb Waqas Sugar Mills, Ittefaq Sugar Mills, Kashmir Sugar Mills, Ramzan Sugar Mills and Yousaf Sugar Mills.

Kamalia Sugar Mills and Layyah Sugar Mills are owned by Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) leaders.

Nasrullah Khan Dareshak owns Indus Sugar Mills while Jahangir Khan Tareen has two sugar mills including JDW Sugar Mills and United Sugar Mills.

Pakistan Muslim League Quaid (PML-Q) leader Anwar Cheema owns National Sugar Mills while Chaudhrys family is or was the owner of Pahrianwali Sugar Mills as it is being heard that they have sold the said mills.

Senator Haroon Akhtar Khan owns Tandianwala Sugar Mills. PPP leader Makhdoom Ahmad Mehmood owns Jamaldin Wali Sugar Mills.

Chaudhry Muneer owns two mills in Rahim Yar Khan district and Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi and former Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Khusro Bakhtiar have shares in these mills.

Economists said that the benefit of exporting 100,000 metric tons of sugar will be given to the ruling elite in the form of dollars, while the people may face a sugar crisis in the coming months because this is an old tactic of the ruling elite.

At the time of crushing season every year, first profit is made in dollars by exporting sugar and then by hoarding, whereas, the price is increased by creating a sugar crisis in the country and looting the pockets of the people, they added.