Islamabad, May 28, 2025 – In a strategic move aimed at enhancing transparency and ensuring fair pricing in the sugar industry, the federal government and sugar millers have reached a consensus to engage independent auditors for the assessment of sugar production costs.
Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research, Rana Tanveer Hussain, presided over a key follow-up meeting with sugar mill owners and other major stakeholders. The session focused on introducing reforms to strengthen the sugar sector and protect consumer interests. A landmark agreement was reached to appoint a mutually approved third-party audit firm to carry out an independent audit of sugar production costs. This initiative is intended to create a transparent and verifiable framework for determining the actual cost of sugar production, which will form the basis for future pricing strategies.
The Minister welcomed this breakthrough and praised the sugar industry for agreeing to temporarily reduce ex-mill sugar prices until Eid-ul-Azha. This short-term price relief is expected to benefit consumers during the festive season. Rana Tanveer termed the decision a positive and cooperative gesture from sugar millers, demonstrating their readiness to support government efforts for market stability.
The audit, which will involve a detailed review of all factors influencing sugar production—from raw material costs to processing and distribution—will be pivotal in developing a new pricing formula. This revised formula will be finalized post-Eid, ensuring it reflects the true cost of sugar production while balancing the interests of producers and the public.
Rana Tanveer reaffirmed the government’s resolve to promote transparency, fair competition, and consumer protection across the food sector. He stressed that sustainable collaboration between the government and private stakeholders is essential for national food security and preventing artificial inflation. The Ministry of National Food Security will continue its proactive approach, utilizing responsible policymaking, robust stakeholder engagement, and vigilant market oversight to regulate key commodities like sugar.
This latest initiative marks a crucial step toward restoring confidence in the sugar market, ensuring that pricing is driven by verified sugar production data, and aligning economic goals with the welfare of the common citizen.