Rawalpindi The sugar is selling for Rs115 to Rs130 per kilogram, a record high price in the history of the country, while the people of different areas in Rawalpindi are facing worst shortage of the commodity. The shopkeepers wanted to earn more and more money by creating artificial shortage of sugar while the government is seeing the whole situation with closed eyes. On the other hand sugar is not available at utility stores. Owing to the shortage of sugar ‘shakar’ is selling for Rs140 to Rs160 in the open market. All Pakistan Sugar Wholesale Dealers Association President Haji Fazal Hussain told ‘The News’ that sugar is selling at wholesale rate of Rs105 per kilogram while shopkeepers selling it for Rs115. The wholesale rates of sugar have increased thrice in a week, he said. He admitted that people in several areas in the city are facing shortage of sugar. Some greedy shopkeepers are creating artificial shortage and the situation would improve after Eid, he assured. All Pakistan Sugar Mills Association Chairman Sikandar Khan said that local sugar is not available in the country. The government is importing the commodity from other countries including India. If the government not made arrangements prices of the sugar would further increase, he warned. Utility Stores Corporation General Manager (Media) Javed Ghori said that they are trying to provide sugar to public but majority of customers continuously visiting utility stores for buying the commodity. According to a survey conducted by ‘The News’, sugar is not available in different areas of the city including Al-Mumtaz Colony, Pirwdhai, Mohanpura, Committee Chowk, Misriyal Road, Sher Zaman Colony, Jhanda Chichi, Garibabad, Scheme-III and some other areas. All shops are filled with the commodity but greedy shopkeepers want to sell it at higher rates of Rs130 to Rs150 per kilogram. The city government is unmoved against hoarders. The reliable sources informed ‘The
News’ that majority of goodowns filled with sugar but sellers want to earn more and more profit. Talking to ‘The News’ people belonging to different walks of life said that the government is busy in leading luxurious life but the public running behind sugar. No one is taking action against ever-increasing prices of the commodity. How poor could buy sugar for Rs115 to Rs130 per kilogram, they said. Nahid Akhtar, a customer in front of a utility store, said that she was waiting for the commodity since morning but failed to get it. How we could buy sugar at higher rates from the open market shops adding the government is insisting people to come out on roads.
