The federal government has decided to import 750,000 metric tons of sugar following the export of 765,734 tons earlier in the fiscal year 2024-25, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar announced on Thursday.

Out of the total, 500,000 tons of refined sugar imports have been approved, while a policy proposal to import 250,000 tons of raw sugar will be submitted to the cabinet for approval. The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) will also be requested to formally endorse the imports.

Sugar exports between July and May surged by an astonishing 2,200 percent compared to the previous year, generating Rs. 114 billion, according to the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics. However, this export boom led to a sharp rise in retail sugar prices, which climbed from Rs. 140 to Rs. 190 per kilogram.

Imported sugar, exempt from taxes, is expected to cost Rs. 153 per kilogram, making it more affordable than locally produced sugar.

Pakistan’s annual sugar consumption stands at 6.4 million tons, with a monthly demand averaging 535,000 tons. This year’s production fell 14 percent to 5.9 million tons compared to the previous season.

Critics argue that the government’s export-first, import-later policy has created an artificial shortage and driven up prices, benefiting well-connected sugar millers.