ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of National Food Security and Research has allowed the export of 200,000 tonnes of sugar after reviewing available stocks and domestic requirements at a high-level meeting of the Sugar Advisory Board.
The meeting of the Sugar Advisory Board was chaired by Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research Rana Tanveer Hussain and attended by representatives of all provinces, farmers and the sugar mills association.
The participants reviewed available data on sugar stocks and domestic requirements before allowing the export of 200,000 tonnes of sugar. The decision was taken after assessing the country’s available stocks and requirements, according to the Ministry of National Food Security and Research.
Federal Minister Rana Tanveer Hussain directed sugar mill owners to ensure timely payments to sugarcane growers, stressing that protection of farmers’ interests remained a priority for the government.
He said the decision to allow sugar exports had been taken after taking into account domestic requirements and available stocks. He added that maintaining a balance between the interests of farmers and the sugar industry was essential for the sustainability of the sugar sector.
The meeting provided a forum for representatives of the provinces, growers and sugar mills to review the prevailing position of the sugar sector and assess whether available stocks could support exports without compromising domestic requirements.
The minister’s direction regarding timely payments is particularly significant for sugarcane growers, who depend on payments from sugar mills for their farm operations and the next crop cycle. Ensuring timely settlement of growers’ dues is also important for maintaining a stable relationship between farmers and the sugar industry.
The ministry maintained that the export decision was linked to the country’s available sugar stocks and domestic requirements. The authorities will therefore need to keep the domestic supply position under review to ensure that exports do not affect availability in the local market.
The approval comes as the government continues to balance the interests of sugarcane growers, sugar mills and consumers. While exports can provide an outlet for surplus stocks, the domestic market remains dependent on adequate supplies to meet consumption requirements.
The Sugar Advisory Board includes stakeholders from the sugar sector, enabling the government to consider the positions of provincial authorities, farmers and industry representatives while taking decisions concerning sugar availability and exports.
The minister reiterated that the interests of farmers and the sugar industry needed to be balanced while ensuring that domestic requirements remained adequately addressed.
