ISLAMABAD, MAR 17 /DNA/ – Shahid Rasheed Butt, a business leader and former President of the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI), stated on Monday that the ongoing profiteering by the powerful sugar mafia during Ramadan has troubled the public.
During Ramadan, the rising prices of essential commodities and sugar across the country have increased the problems of the commoner. In contrast, he said the main reason for the increase in sugar prices is indiscriminate exports.
Shahid Rasheed Butt said in a statement issued here today that experts had issued warnings of price hikes in case of massive quantities of sugar export. Still, the authorities did not listen to them, so sugar has reached Rs 180 per kg and will soon reach Rs 200 per kg.
The business leader said that the increase in the price of sugar by Rs 50 per kg in three months is unjustified and condemnable.
He said that retailers justify the increase in wholesale prices, while wholesalers blame sugar mills. Speculation has also started in the sugar trade, and it is regrettable that no action has been taken in this regard.
He said that it’s high time we put an end to this game as the masses need a real, uncompromising crackdown on those who are making sugar expensive and creating its artificial crisis.
He said it is necessary to bring such elements under the law and completely ban sugar export.
Mr Butt demanded that the sugar mafia is busy exploiting the common man during the blessed month of Ramadan, and no one is stopping them, which is sending negative signals to the masses reeling under inflation.
