Forced Sale of Imported Sugar in Balochistan Leaves Public Paying Higher Prices

*Quetta:* Traders in Balochistan have raised serious concerns over what they describe as the forced sale of imported sugar in the province, warning that the policy is hurting local businesses and forcing consumers to buy sugar at higher prices.

President of the Balochistan Traders Association, **Abdul Rahim Kakar**, said that there is no sugar mill operating in Balochistan and the province’s sugar requirements are traditionally met by local traders who procure sugar from mills in Punjab and Sindh. However, he alleged that traders are now being compelled to sell only **imported sugar**, while the sale of domestically produced sugar has effectively been restricted.

According to the Traders Association, a new policy regarding **imported sugar by the Trading Corporation of Pakistan (TCP)** has adversely affected local traders. The Department of Industries has reportedly instructed sugar dealers to transport and sell only TCP-imported sugar, while the issuance of **No Objection Certificates (NOCs)** for transporting sugar from Pakistani sugar mills has been halted since **September 2025**.

Abdul Rahim Kakar stated that the price of TCP-imported sugar is around **Rs175 per kilogram**, whereas the ex-mill price of locally produced sugar in Pakistan is approximately **Rs140 per kilogram**, creating a difference of nearly **Rs40 per kilogram**. He added that this price gap translates into a difference of about **Rs1.7 million per truck**, with each truck carrying around **800 sugar bags**, ultimately burdening consumers in Balochistan with higher costs.

He urged the government to allow the sale and transportation of sugar from **local sugar mills**, saying that such a move would ensure the availability of **affordable and good-quality sugar** for the people of Balochistan and help protect the livelihoods of local traders.