Pakistan : Sugar Prices Surge to Rs178/kg in Peshawar as Dealers Blame Season End, Taxes
Sugar prices in Peshawar have surged to Rs178 per kg, with a 50-kg sack selling for Rs8,900. Dealers cite the end of the crushing season, rising fuel costs, sales tax on mills, and heavy taxation on online payments as key factors. Market manipulation and reluctance to restock also fuel the price hike.
The retail price of sugar in Peshawar has climbed to Rs178 per kg, while a 50-kg sack is now selling for Rs8,900, according to local sugar dealer Taimur Khan from Rampura Gate.
Speaking to TNN, Taimur said that the main reasons for the price hike include the end of the sugarcane crushing season, government taxes on online transactions, and the influence of market manipulators who exploit seasonal shortages.
“The crushing season ends by March. After that, prices start rising. Dealers are now relying solely on their current stock, as no one is willing to buy new supplies under these conditions,” he said.
He added that online payments are heavily taxed, and constant questioning from tax authorities has discouraged shopkeepers from restocking. “Payments are not just made to mill owners; brokers and others are also involved,” he noted.
Khurram Shehzad, another Peshawar-based sugar dealer, echoed similar concerns, citing rising fuel prices, FBR’s sales tax on mills, and increased mill operating costs as contributing factors.
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Source : TNN
