Appearing from Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar, Muzaffarabad & Quetta

Saturday, October 3, 2009, Shawwal 13, 1430

SC forms sugar price fixing commission

Tanvir Siddiqi

Islamabad—The Supreme Court has constituted a single member Commission to determine the prices of sugar in the country.

The commission to be headed by Chairman Competitiveness Commission of Pakistan Khalid Mirza will submit its report to the apex court within two weeks. The commission will have the powers to call any opponent. A three-member bench of the Supreme Court, headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry constituted the Commission while hearing petitions challenging the Lahore High Court’s verdict that set sugar prices at Rs 40 a kilogramme. The Court directed the federal government to ensure sale of sugar at the rate of forty rupees per kilogramme in all the four provinces until the commission comes up with its report. It has also directed the government to issue a notification in this regard immediately.

During the course of the hearing of petition regarding sugar prices, Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhary directed the federal and provincial governments to take strict action against hoarders of the commodity and that the stocked sugar should be brought in the market. Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry in his remarks said the government should withdraw its petition against the price of sugar set down by LHC.

He remarked that it seems that the government wants selling of the sugar on the rate as set by the mill owners. Supreme Court said the sugar prices will remain at Rs.40/kg till the submission of Commission’s report.

The court also sent the matter to SECP which will take up the issue in accordance with companies act and inform the court. The court has adjourned the hearing till October 16. Attorney General Latif Khosa said the sugar prices are showing upward trend due to its high prices in the neighbouring Afghanistan and India. The hearing of the case was adjourned till the 16th of this month.
 

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