THE government’s decision to export imported sugar has once again exposed serious weaknesses in country’s sugar-management system. The fact that Pakistan first imported sugar fearing a shortage and is now preparing to export a sizeable portion of the same stock raises a fundamental question: how accurate and reliable are official figures on sugar production, stocks and domestic consumption? In June 2025, government allowed the import of up to 500,000 tonnes of sugar to stabilise domestic prices amid concerns over reduced sugarcane production. Of this, 300,000 tonnes were imported by Trading Corporation of Pakistan. Government now says around 192,000 tonnes were sold domestically, while nearly 108,000 tonnes remain with the TCP and face disposal because of their approaching shelf life.
The immediate concern is understandable: allowing imported sugar to expire would cause a financial loss to the national exchequer. Yet larger issue cannot be ignored. How was the need for imports determined in the first place, and why was such a substantial quantity subsequently left unsold? This recurring contradiction points towards inadequate coordination and, more importantly, weaknesses in the mechanism used to determine country’s actual sugar position. The role of Sugar Advisory Board and Food Ministry therefore deserves serious scrutiny. We urgently need a transparent, centralised and continuously updated system showing the actual sugar stocks available across the country. Production, mill inventories, government stocks, imports, exports and estimated consumption should all form part of a single verifiable database. The figures should also be independently audited so that policy decisions are based on physical availability rather than estimates or claims by individual stakeholders. Most importantly, domestic requirements must take precedence over exports. No export should be allowed unless independently verified data establish that sufficient stocks exist to meet domestic consumption for the required period, including a reasonable strategic reserve. An exportable surplus should be declared only after this assessment. The repeated cycle of exports, shortages, price increases and subsequent imports serves neither consumers nor farmers. Growers already face high input costs and delayed payments from sugar mills, while consumers ultimately bear the burden of higher prices.
