Islamabad, June 23, 2025 – In a dramatic policy reversal that has sent shockwaves through economic and political circles, Pakistan has been forced to approve the import of 500,000 metric tons of sugar after allowing a massive outflow of the commodity earlier this fiscal year.
What was hailed as an export success story has now spiraled into a supply crisis, exposing critical flaws in planning and foresight.
READ MORE: Sugar export rises over 18 times amid 24% local price surge
According to data released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS), the country exported a staggering 765,734 metric tons of sugar between July and May of FY2024-25. These exports were authorized under the assurance that domestic sugar prices would remain unaffected. However, contrary to those guarantees, local markets saw a sharp surge in prices due to dwindling sugar stocks — a shortage that has now triggered this urgent import decision.
Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research, Rana Tanveer Hussain, convened a high-stakes meeting of the Sugar Advisory Board in Islamabad on Monday. During the meeting, the board gave the green light to the import of sugar in a bid to stabilize the market and rescue consumers from the pinch of rising prices.
“This is not just about sugar anymore — it’s about restoring trust in governance and protecting every household from inflation,” said the Minister. He emphasized that supply chain mismanagement, hoarding, and non-compliance by mill owners contributed to this crisis. The impact has been far-reaching, affecting both direct consumers and industries dependent on sugar as a raw material.
The Minister confirmed that all procedural formalities for the sugar import will be completed within days. The imported sugar is expected to hit the domestic market swiftly, in hopes of cooling the overheated prices. “This import of sugar is a necessary correction to a market imbalance caused by overzealous export decisions,” he added.
Furthermore, the government has pledged to enforce strict monitoring, in collaboration with provincial authorities, to curb profiteering and ensure transparent sugar distribution. New enforcement mechanisms will target stockpilers and retailers found manipulating the market.
The Ministry of National Food Security and Research remains on high alert and committed to preventing further economic shocks. This bold intervention — though reactive — aims to sweeten the bitter aftermath of policy missteps and secure sugar availability for the people of Pakistan.