The price of sugar has soared to Rs160 per kilogram in retail markets across Pakistan, adding to the burden of inflation-stricken consumers.
According to the latest Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) report, the highest sugar prices are being recorded in Islamabad, Rawalpindi, and Karachi, where consumers are paying Rs160 per kg for the essential commodity.
The sugar is sold at Rs155 per kg in Gujranwala, Sialkot, Khuzdar and Quetta, while the commodity’s per kg rate is Rs150 in Faisalabad, Sargodha, Multan and Larkana.
In Rawalpindi and Lahore, the commodity is sold at Rs150 per kg, while in Sargodha, Multan and Gujranwala, the sugar per kg rate is Rs145.
In Bannu and Quetta the per kg sugar price is Rs150, while in Hyderabad Rs148 per kg and in Bahawalpur and Sukkur, the sugar price is Rs145 per kg.
The persistent increase in sugar prices is a significant concern for the public, particularly with inflationary pressures already impacting other essential goods.
Amid rising prices, the government is considering imposing a Federal Excise Duty (FED) on sugar in a bid to address the ongoing tax revenue shortfall. This move comes ahead of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) review, which is crucial for securing the second tranche of Pakistan’s loan program.
