Federal Finance Minister Hammad Azhar on Wednesday declared thegovernment’s decision to import sugar and cotton from India.
In his first press conference since taking over the finance portfolio, theminister spoke about Pakistan’s high sugar prices, stating that althoughthe government had allowed sugar to be imported from other countries, theprice of the commodity in those countries was also high.
“However, in our neighboring country India, the price of sugar is quitecheap,” he said. “Hence, we have decided to resume sugar trade with India”.
According to him, the measure would help lower sugar prices in Pakistan andprovide relief to the people.
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According to Azhar, the demand for cotton in Pakistan is also rising, andthe country requires a large quantity of the crop. He clarified that sincePakistan did not grow high-quality cotton last year, the country hadprovided the go-ahead for the crop to be imported from other countries.
“However, the import of cotton from India was banned and this had a directeffect on our SMEs,” he said. “However, at the recommendation of theMinistry of Commerce, we have also decided to resume the trade of cottonwith India,” he said.