They maintained that Pakistanis, especially in Punjab, were accustomed to stronger tasting local sugar and are not purchasing imported sugar in large quantities. In order to maintain their profits, sugar dealers have adopted a “go slow” policy in lifting imported sugar. Talking to The Express Tribune, Maqbool Ahmed, president of sugar traders association in Khanpur said that people are not interested in using imported sugar and their demand is for local sugar. “Instead of banning the low quality imported sugar, vendors in all markets are being coerced to sell only imported sugar at a fixed price.”According to Maqbool those not selling imported sugar are sent to jail and face a fine of R50,000. The officials in provincial food and industries departments maintain that even though the imported sugar is thinner than the locally produced sugar, its sweetness is up to the mark.

Source: The Express Tribune November 14, 2020 03:56 UTC