RAWALPINDI: Despite tall claims by the federal government to fix the price of sugar at Rs164 per kg it, the commodity is selling at Rs178 per kg in Rawalpindi district.

Two days ago, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar had announced to cap the sugar price at Rs164 per kg in markets. But, on Friday, sugar was being sold in markets at Rs178 to Rs180 per kg as per its quality.

Shopkeepers said the price of sugar had escalated in the wholesale market. However, price magistrates started action against shopkeepers and asked them to sell sugar at the price fixed by the district administration.

Punjab Karyana Association President Saleem Pervaiz Butt told Dawn that the federal government’s policy on retail sugar rates had failed. Due to unclear and ambiguous instructions, he said there was uncertainty in the markets and the shortage of the commodity may aggravate during Eid.

When govt cannot fix rates for millers and wholesalers, why retailers being forced to sell sugar at low rates, says association’s president

“When the government cannot fix the rates for millers and wholesalers, why are retailers being forced to sell it at low rates despite the lack of supply,” he said.

He said the association was conveying grievances of retailers to the government that if it (government) was helpless in front of the sugar cartel and its entire focus was on retailers, we would be left with no other option but to close down our stores.

“On Friday, sugar price in the wholesale market was Rs8300 per 50 kg bag. It is not possible to sell it at Rs164 per kg after getting it at Rs166 per kg from the wholesale market. We are selling sugar on Rs10 per kg profit margin as we also have to pay transport charges,” he said.

He added that a case about the sugar prices was also pending in Lahore High Court.

“We are constantly requesting the administration to fix the prices of edibles after checking the wholesale markets in the province and other parts of the country instead of imposing unjustified fines. But our requests are not being taken seriously,” he said.

Mr Butt added that the district administration had also fixed Rs380 per kg price of Dal Mong, Rs300 of Besan and Rs400 for Channa Daal but in wholesale market Mong was available at Rs400 per kg, Besan at Rs327 per kg and Channa Daal at Rs410 per kg.

On the other hand, the local residents said sugar was available at Rs130 per kg in Ramazan Sahulat bazaars but the administration was selling only one kg to each consumer after checking their national identity cards.

Mohammad Rafiq, a resident of Dhoke Kala Khan, said he needed 10 kg sugar a month for his eight-member family. He said one kg sugar was not enough even for two days.

Sarwar Ahmed, of Jhanda Chichi, said prices of pulses and vegetables had increased and there was no check on shopkeepers.

“Some grocery stores have set up small counters in their outlets to sell substandard pulses, rice and Besan at official rates while good quality products had different rates,” he said.

When contacted, a district administration official said that the price magistrates had been working to implement the price lists issued by the government.

He said that the prices of sugar and other edibles were fixed after seeing the wholesale market rates. However, he said the prices of sugar were fluctuating constantly and “we would inspect markets to ensure supply of edibles.”

Published in Dawn, March 22nd, 2025