“Sugar industry is one of the most influential industries in Pakistan”

Islamabad: Dr Muhammad Hanif Mughal, chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Shadbad, on Sunday highlighted the significant influence of the sugar industry in Pakistan, pointing to the ongoing exploitation of farmers and the public by what he called the “sugar mafia”. He claimed that this unchecked power is also preventing the country from achieving self-sufficiency in wheat production, local media reported.

Addressing party workers, Dr Mughal criticized the mafia-owned factories for exploiting the public and evading billions in taxes while constantly reporting financial losses. He noted that despite reported losses, the steel mills did not close but instead sought to establish more factories.

He pointed out that though there is a surplus of sugar production, many new sugar mills have been set up and the government is incurring huge expenses for their maintenance. Dr. Mughal alleged that sugar mills were deliberately delaying payments to farmers due to which they were forced to sell their produce to agents at low rates. He further said that delay in purchasing sugarcane reduces its weight and also results in huge financial losses to farmers. He alleged that the sugar mafia is making huge profits from these illegal and unethical practices.

Dr. Mughal noted that “the sugar mafia thinks it has the right to cheat farmers at the time of weighing the sugarcane and bears no responsibility for it.” He noted that whenever the sugarcane production falls, the market prices rise and the mafia imports sugar in a hurry, bringing down the cost of sugarcane. In case of good harvests, they export sugar to earn foreign exchange coupled with huge subsidies.

He further explained that delayed payments to farmers make it difficult for them to prepare for the next wheat harvest, which ultimately hits food production and security. He recalled how the federal finance minister was once thrown out when he refused to back down and grant subsidies to sugar mills, which they later received from provincial governments.

He noted that investigations against the sugar mafia are often initiated following public protests, but rarely result in penalties. He added that such proceedings are usually stopped due to the interference of invisible forces.

He concluded by saying that as long as the mafia is allowed to exploit farmers and the public and avoid paying taxes, both the agricultural sector and society at large will continue to suffer.