Prime Minister sets ex-mill sugar price at Rs45/kg

Sunday, August 23, 2009 at 12:24 am under Pakistan News

Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan:- Punjab Chief Minister, Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has said that we are thankful to Prime Minister of Pakistan for approving the proposal of Muslim League-N for fixing ex-mill price of sugar at Rs.45 per kg. He said that it was desire of PML-N Quaid Muhammad Nawaz Sharif that the ex-mill price of sugar should not be more than Rs.45 per kg so that it could be available to the people at retail price of Rs.46 or Rs.47 per kg. He said that when the Federal Minister for Industries and Production announced unilaterally ex-mill price of sugar at Rs.49.75 per kg, this decision was not acceptable to us in the larger interest of the common man.

He was talking to the media-men after meeting with a representative delegation of Pakistan Sugar Mills Association Punjab, here today. Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif told the media that as a result of dialogue with the Pakistan Sugar Mills Association and other traders organizations, it was decided that not a single penny will be increased in the ex-mill price of sugar at Rs.45 per kg whereas in retail its maximum price would be Rs.47 per kg and in some divisions of the province its price would be Rs.46 per kg. The Chief Minister said that the provincial government has assured the Sugar Mills Association that the police force deputed in sugar mills all over the Punjab will be removed and notifications issued for compulsory purchase of sugar by the government will also be withdrawn. The Chief Minister said that he is also thankful to Senator Ishaq Dar, Provincial Minister for Food Malik Nadim Kamran, Chief Secretary and Secretary Food for successfully presenting the stance of Punjab government and Muslim League-N in today’s meeting with the Prime Minister. Shahbaz Sharif said that he is especially thankful to the Prime Minister who endorsed that decision which was announced by the provincial government two days ago.

Earlier, addressing the meeting of Pakistan Sugar Mills Association and Traders Organizations, the Chief Minister said that sugar is the need of common man and Punjab government will fulfill its responsibility for providing it to the common man at all costs. He asked the mill owners present in the meeting to accept this decision wholeheartedly and this decision has been taken in the larger interest of the people who are the real owner of Pakistan. He said that like dal roti, sugar has become the necessity for the poor people and it is not the luxury item. He said that government is removing police force from the mills but it will continue the process of supervision for keeping a vigilant eye on sugar prices. He said that government expects from the mill owners that they will not create any shortage in the supply of sugar. He said that in Ramazan bazaars 20-kg atta bag will be sold at Rs.200 whereas sugar will be sold at Rs.40 per kg.

Chairman Pakistan Sugar Mills Association Punjab, Javed Kiyani assured that they will fully implement the agreements made with the Punjab government and besides regular supply, they will also ensure the provision of sugar at fixed prices so that consumers of the province should not face any difficulty. He thanked the Chief Minister Punjab for removing police force from sugar mills and withdrawing the notification. On this occasion, representatives of traders assured the Chief Minister that they will fully cooperate with the Punjab government in this welfare step and will not allow increase in prices of sugar.