Cartels exist in almost every sector but it is a well known fact that the most powerful of them are the ones in the sugar industry who frequently and repeatedly manipulate the sugar production and its availability in the market to maximize their profits. These opportunistic individuals ruling the roost are least bothered about what happens to the man in the street. The regrettable part is that the successive governments have over the years been acting only as silent spectators and there is nobody to rein in these sugar barons. The primary reason is that some of these elements happen to be parliamentarians, making it difficult for the government to lay a hand on them.
The recent decision by the government allowing the export of 250,000 metric tonne of sugar is also being seen as the government succumbing to the pressure tactics of sugar baron industry. There is no denying that the country, at present, is faced with a dire economic situation and is looking at different options to enhance its foreign exchange reserves. Allowing the export of sugar will help it fetch the valuable foreign exchange but the government should not forget that a couple of years back when PTI was in power, export of the commodity was allowed which then led to shortage and substantial increase in sugar’s price in the local market. The then government then had to import the sugar to meet the domestic requirements. If the same episode is repeated this time, this will not only push up the prices of the sugar but will also have far reaching consequences that the struggling economy will not be able to sustain. The holy month of Ramadan is also around the corner. It is the month when the consumption of sugar increases manifold. Also the decision of allowing the commodity’s export has been taken while bypassing the federal cabinet. It was through a summary that the endorsement of the ministers was taken which really smacks of foul play and indicates that the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) has approved the export of the commodity on the basis of ‘factually incorrect production figures’. Already the price hike has broken the back of poor consumers and if the prices of sugar increase as a result of its export, the current regime has to pay its price politically in the elections. Instead of siding with the strong sugar industry, the government must take decisions that serve the interests of the consumers. Apart from robbing the pockets of consumers, the sugar industry also badly exploits the poor farmers as they do not make timely payments over the purchase of sugarcane. Both the federal and provincial governments must join hands and come up with mechanisms that ensure protection of the rights of these farmers. It is really unfortunate that the farmers work day in and day out to grow their crops including sugarcane but at the end of the day it is these barons, especially in the sugar industry, that fill their pockets. The benefit must also reach the peasants. Be wary of the fact that when the state does not act, the people start taking law into their hands. Before this happens, these strong lobbies should be held accountable.
