Speaking during a high-level meeting on sugar price control, the prime minister said that no one will be allowed to take advantage of the public by raising prices unfairly or creating an artificial shortage of sugar.

The meeting focused on the sugar pricing agreement signed between the Pakistan Sugar Mills Association (PSMA) and the government. According to the deal, the ex-mill price of sugar is set at Rs165 per kilogram, and the retail price is capped at Rs173 per kilogram.

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But despite this, sugar prices have skyrocketed in several major cities like Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar, and Quetta, reaching up to Rs190 per kilogram far above the government’s set limit.

“There will be no mercy for those who break the law,” PM Shehbaz warned. “We won’t allow anyone to hoard sugar or raise prices unfairly.”

Government teams are already cracking down on hoarders and price manipulators, trying to stop those who are believed to be hiding sugar to sell it later at higher prices. However, many shops across Pakistan still have empty shelves, and customers are struggling to find sugar at government-set rates.

A sugar pricing plan was made on July 14, which promised stable prices from July 15 to August 15, with a slow increase until October 15. But reports show many sugar mills are not following the rules and charging more than agreed.

Federal Minister Rana Tanveer Hussain also held a meeting with sugar industry leaders earlier this week, warning that mills caught overcharging or holding back supply would face serious action.