The caretaker government vowed on Tuesday to curb hoarding and smuggling.
Speaking exclusively on the Samaa News programme, Caretaker Information Minister Murtaza Solangi said, Within the coming days, the government will take strict action against hoarding and smuggling.
Mr Solangi vowed to address the problems in line with the ballooning inflation and sugar surge.
– Smuggling woes –
Punjab caretaker government, in a special report, claimed the Lahore High Court (LHC) stay order, actually paved the way for the increase in sugar prices across the province.
According to the Punjab government report, sugar mills and speculators are charging Rs100 per kg and recommended that speculators needed to be detained under the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO).
The sugar mills, dealers, brokers, speculators have looted Rs55 to Rs56 billion by selling sugar on inflated prices per kg.
The report said prices of sugar are being increased enormously over illegal profits.
According to the report, Punjab cabinet gave authority to Punjab Cane Commissioner to determine sugar price. During the crushing season, a total of 7.7 million metric tons of sugar was produced in the country and five million metric tonnes of sugar stored in Punjab.
The reserves of Punjab were sufficient to meet the needs of the integrated region, as per the report.
