The Grocery Merchants Association has announced a province-wide suspension of sugar sales in Punjab due to an ongoing pricing dispute with the government.
According to the association, the sugar crisis in Punjab has worsened, prompting the decision to halt retail sales. Hafiz Arif Gujar, President of the Central Grocery Merchants Association, stated that retailers cannot continue buying sugar at high market prices and selling it at lower, government-fixed rates.
“The government has set the ex-mill price of sugar at Rs165 per kilogram, but has failed to ensure supply at that rate. If we are not provided sugar at the official price, we cannot be expected to sell it at a loss,” Gujar said.
The association further clarified that until a pricing mechanism is agreed upon between sugar mills, dealers, and grocery merchants, the suspension on sugar sales will remain in effect.
Merchants also criticized the government’s enforcement actions, alleging that instead of ensuring proper supply at official rates, authorities have begun sealing shops and imposing heavy fines.
“We are willing to sell sugar at Rs173 per kg if the government provides it to us at the declared price of Rs165,” said Gujar. He confirmed that starting Tuesday, July 22, retail sugar sales across Punjab will be suspended indefinitely.
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