A parliamentary committee in Pakistan has flagged serious discrepancies in sugar stock reporting, citing misstated quantities, manufactured shortages and inconsistencies in official data, according to the media reports.
A sub-committee of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Commerce presented its report on the sugar sector on Wednesday, outlining key recommendations aimed at reforms and tighter oversight.
The meeting, chaired by MNA Jawed Hanif Khan, reviewed the sub-committee’s findings on the sugar industry alongside discussions on managing the trade deficit and assessing investment trends.
According to the report, weak monitoring mechanisms, verification failures, temporary breakdowns in tracking systems, and unresolved legal and administrative issues have contributed significantly to market distortions.
The findings have been forwarded to the Ministry of National Food Security and Research, which has been directed to submit a formal response to the sub-committee within one month.
The sub-committee, tasked with a comprehensive review of the sugar sector, finalized its report after consulting all relevant stakeholders.
Emphasising the need for structural reforms, the committee called for stronger governance, greater transparency and enhanced accountability to stabilise the market and protect consumers. It was also decided that the committee would seek detailed information from the Finance Division and the Trading Corporation of Pakistan (TCP) regarding outstanding receivables and pending recoveries linked to public-sector procurement.
Committee members stressed that improved inter-institutional coordination, objective decision-making and strict enforcement of rules were essential to avert future crises.
In addition, the standing committee discussed the recent trend of multinational companies reducing or winding up operations in Pakistan. The ministry attributed this to factors including high taxation, inflation and the rising cost of doing business.
The committee noted that the prime minister has formed private-sector-led committees to recommend solutions and advised greater engagement with the business community.
