Sugar prices control krne k liye 53% sugar import duty waive kr di gae.
Summary:
Sugar prices ne Pakistan mein tezi se upar jaane ke baad federal cabinet ne 500,000 metric tons sugar import karne ki manzoori de di hai, aur 53% duties aur taxes waive kar diye gaye hain. Yeh move unki pehli sugar export policy ka direct result hai jis ke baad local market mein rates Rs196/kg tak pohanch gaye. Finance Ministry ne is faislay par reservations show kiye hain, lekin government ne food emergency invoke karke exemption approve karwa li.
Price Hike Control: Import Duty Khtam
Islamabad – Federal cabinet ne sugar import par lagne wali 53% duties aur taxes waive karte hue 500,000 metric tons cheeni import karne ki manzoori de di hai, taake local market mein skyrocketing prices ko control kiya ja sake.
Yeh decision us waqt aaya jab sugar ki retail price, Pakistan Bureau of Statistics ke mutabiq, Rs196 per kg tak pohanch chuki thi – jo export se pehle Rs138/kg thi.
Backstory: Export Ne Mehngai Barha Di
Government ne pehle 765,000 MT sugar export ki permission di thi jabke Finance Ministry ne oppose kiya tha. Resultantly, local market mein cheeni ki shortage hui aur prices barh gaye.
Finance Ministry sources ke mutabiq yeh tax waiver bhi Deputy PM Ishaq Dar ki chairmanship mein liya gaya pehla step tha, jise baad mein cabinet ne summary circulate kar ke approve kiya – agenda item ke taur par formally discuss kiye baghair.
Price Comparison: Before vs After Duty Waiver
Import ke baghair, sugar ka landed cost Rs245/kg estimate kiya gaya tha. Magar ab jab taxes waive ho gaye hain, to cost drop ho kar Rs153/kg ho gayi hai – freight charges exclude hain.
Waived Taxes:
- 18% sales tax
- 3% additional sales tax
- 6% income tax
- 20% custom duty
- 6% additional custom duty
Finance Ministry’s Reaction
Finance Ministry ne Prime Minister’s Office ko warn kiya ke yeh move Pakistan ki international commitments ko violate kar sakta hai – specifically regarding agriculture commodities.
Lekin ek cabinet minister ne anonymity par kaha ke yeh decision food emergency ke under liya gaya hai, is liye commitments breach nahi hoti.
PSMA aur Price Manipulation Concerns
Pichlay fiscal year ke dauran, Pakistan ne Rs114 billion earn kiye from sugar exports – ek 2,200% increase from previous year.
Magar is export decision ke baad, local consumers ko Rs190/kg tak cheeni khareedni padi – Rs58 ka direct jump.
Govt ne March mein retail sugar price Rs164/kg fix kiya tha, lekin Pakistan Sugar Mills Association (PSMA) ke sath price negotiations ke bawajood bhi market prices ko control nahi kiya ja saka.
Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) pehle bhi PSMA ko cartel behavior mein involve hone ka zimmedar thehra chuki hai.
Govt’s Justification
Rana Tanveer Hussain, Minister for National Food Security ne kaha ke import ka decision “food security aur consumer protection” ke liye hai. Unho ne confirm kiya ke Trading Corporation of Pakistan ko State Bank se funds milenge for immediate sugar import.