Staff Reporter
Islamabad
Federal Planning and Development Minister Asad Umar on Tuesday appeared before the FIA Director General Wajid Zia-led commission probing into the sugar crisis in the country and responded to its queries about the Economic Coordination Committee’s decision to allow the export of the sweetener even though there were no surplus stocks.
Umar was the finance minister at the time when the ECC had approved the export of the commodity. The meetings of the forum are chaired by the finance minister.
Speaking to reporters after appearing before the commission, Umar said he had informed the commission about the ECC’s decision. “I was first given the chance to present my stance on the matter and was then asked questions,” he added.
The [forensic] report of the commission will be made public soon and Prime Minister Imran Khan will not disappoint the nation.”
The minister further said the report would reveal as to why the prices of sugar had increased even though there was no shortage of the commodity in the country. “The report will disclose if sugar was smuggled out of the country or not.” The minister had requested the commission to summon him instead of the prime minister after PML-N Senior Vice President Shahid Khaqan Abbasi appeared before the body and demanded that it should question the premier and the then finance minister about why the federal cabinet and the ECC had approved the export of sugar when there were no surplus stocks in the country.
