20000419

3,360 tonnes

of sugar imported

this fiscal

ISLAMABAD: The private sector has imported 3,360 tonnes of sugar during the last nine months of the current fiscal, an official of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture told APP.

He said that there is no restriction on the import of sugar from any country of the world.

The private sector had been allowed by the government to import sugar some couple of years ago, he said there is no proposal to import sugar through public sector.

Usually, the private sector imports the sugar from China, Thailand, Brazil and other countries of he Middle East.

Sources said that the international prices of sugar are low as compared to the domestic prices and the consumer will not face any problem of price hike.

Sugar Mills Association has demanded of the government to monitor figure of import of sugar and increase the import duty to save the local industry.

They are of the view that large quantity of import of sugar beyond the requirement, and any reduction in the import duty will hit the domestic industry in future.

It may be mentioned here that the country has produced only 2.41 million tonnes of sugar against the consumption of 2.9 million tonnes.

The country will have to import 0.3 million tonnes of sugar to bridge the gap, while some carry-over stocks are also available this year.

Sources said that the private sector has placed orders for the import of sugar to meet the shortfall.ÑAPP