Non-Representative Governments Care for Their Own Pockets, Not the People: Shahid Khaqan Abbasi

Islamabad: Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Convener of the Awam Pakistan Party, has said that governments which do not truly represent the people only care about their own pockets, not public welfare.

Addressing a press conference in Islamabad, Abbasi criticized the government’s handling of sugar prices, noting that sugar has reached nearly Rs. 200 per kilogram. “The era of running markets through administrative measures is over,” he remarked.

He pointed out that every one-rupee increase in sugar prices costs the public Rs. 7 billion, while sugar mill owners collectively pocket Rs. 300–400 billion from such hikes. “The sugar industry was deliberately given undue benefit,” he alleged.

Abbasi further said that despite the existence of at least 7–8 sugar price monitoring committees under the cabinet, sugar prices continue to rise. He criticized the government for allowing sugar exports when local supply was insufficient. “Today, sugar mill owners earn Rs. 1 billion daily from the pockets of the people. The government, parliament, and sugar price control committees have failed,” he said.

Turning to wheat, Abbasi argued that the situation had worsened beyond that of sugar, citing governance failures. He highlighted that sugar prices had risen by 50% in just one year, yet no one has been held accountable. “At the very least, admit the mistake,” he urged.

He also condemned the government’s decision to import sugar at inflated prices, higher than both the domestic market and international rates, while giving tax exemptions on sales. “This imported sugar was not released into the market for public relief; instead, beverage and other factories were forced to buy it. Even in imports, sugar mill owners were given undue relief,” Abbasi stated.