Karachi : Miftah Ismail blasts govt over soaring sugar, electricity prices
Former finance minister Miftah Ismail criticized the Pakistani government for allowing rising electricity and sugar prices, accusing it of prioritizing profits over public welfare. Speaking in Karachi, he condemned the government’s decision to permit the export of 5-6 million tonnes of sugar, benefiting mill owners while burdening the public with higher prices. Ismail questioned the government’s policies, recalling promises made when sugar was priced at Rs 80-90, and asked why prices are now exceeding Rs 175.
KARACHI – Former finance minister and economist Miftah Ismail on Thursday came down hard on the federal government for allowing electricity and sugar prices to spiral, accusing it of prioritising profits over public welfare. Speaking at a press conference in Karachi, he said the current administration had enabled sugar mill owners to benefit from export permissions while everyday Pakistanis bore the brunt of skyrocketing prices.
“Six months ago, the government permitted the export of 5 to 6 million tonnes of sugar, so that Sindh and Punjab’s sugar mill owners can get dollars and relief,” he stated. Drawing a comparison with past decisions, Ismail reminded the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) of its earlier criticism of sugar exports under former premier Imran Khan. “I ask Shehbaz Sharif sahab, who influenced your decision to export sugar?” he asked, highlighting the political hypocrisy. “Because you had promised — when sugar was Rs80 to Rs90 — that you won’t let it exceed Rs140,” he added. “Exports started when sugar was at Rs115 — now it was at Rs175.” He further questioned the logic behind recent policy decisions: “Pakistani people should know why is sugar expensive, why are you cutting solar energy bills, and why are you making people’s electricity expensive?”
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Source : Nation
