PSMA demands early sugar export and deregulation policy

Meeting calls for urgent action

The General Body meeting held simultaneously across three cities addressed large surplus stocks of sugar currently available in the country. Mill owners from Punjab, Sindh, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa expressed concern that the government has not yet allowed export of the agreed quota. While permission is granted for 200,000 metric tonnes, about 1.1 million metric tonnes stay unsold. Consequently, mill owners stated they cannot start crushing operations under these current circumstances.

Delegation seeks government permission

Members unanimously decided that commencing the 2026-27 crushing season before December would not be possible given existing stock levels. The meeting delegated full authority to the Executive Committee to approach the government for specific demands regarding surplus sugar. An immediate request was made to authorize the export of another 400,000 metric tonnes in surplus sugar. Furthermore, the association seeks the long-awaited deregulation policy for the entire sugar sector.

Future steps and press conference

The General Body stressed that releasing the deregulation policy is now imperative to prevent continued stock accumulation. Without timely policy action, the industry faces financial strain and further delays in operations. A press conference is scheduled for mill owners to take place in Lahore on November 16, 2026. The association also proposed writing a formal letter to the Deputy Prime Minister to seek a meeting appointment.