All 41 sugar mills start crushing in Punjab as retail sugar price climbs to Rs179 per Kg

LAHORE (Dunya News) - Punjab Cane Commissioner Amjad Hafeez has announced that all 41 sugar mills across the province have officially started the crushing season, even as retail sugar prices have shot up to Rs179 per kilogram, causing concern among consumers.

According to the commissioner, 38,71,240 metric tonnes of sugarcane have already been crushed, producing 283,935 metric tonnes of sugar. He said the arrival of new sugar has pushed the ex-mill price to between Rs159 and Rs162 per kg, while market prices currently range from Rs168 to Rs179 per kg — a clear sign that prices are still climbing.

Hafeez said authorities have decided to “tighten the screws” on mills delaying payments to growers. In a tough move, the deputy commissioners of Jhang and Faisalabad sealed three sugar mills for failing to pay farmers on time.

He added that the government is “leaving no stone unturned” in the fight against sugar hoarding and profiteering. So far, over 500 FIRs have been registered, 3,952 people arrested, and fines amounting to more than Rs58.8 million imposed during the ongoing crackdown.

The commissioner said the mills are under continuous monitoring to ensure timely payments to farmers and to prevent any “artificial shortage” of sugar in the market. He reiterated that the administration would not allow anyone to “play dirty tricks” with prices or supplies.