Does Pakistan genuinely have enough surplus sugar to export?

Dawn reported that the Pakistan Sugar Mills Association is seeking approval to ship one million tonnes abroad, saying it holds 1.03 million tonnes in surplus before the next crushing season starts in November. The industry says exports would clear warehouses, ease mill liquidity and let millers buy the next cane crop, and it puts potential sales at about $600 million. A government committee reportedly deferred an immediate decision, while the Ministry of Commerce told a parliamentary panel that no export proposal was under consideration.

Dawn recalled that last year's export of around 0.75 million tonnes was followed by a sharp rise in domestic prices, with retail sugar climbing beyond Rs180 per kg. Imports of about 300,000 tonnes came next, at a cost of roughly $150 million, and in August the Economic Coordination Committee chose international tenders for 108,000 tonnes of leftover stock rather than opening sales to private millers. The industry's stock figures have also shifted, from 3.4 million tonnes on July 15 to 3.171 million tonnes on July 31.

The Pakistan Kissan Ittehad wants exports allowed before crushing starts on November 15 and warns of a collapse in cane prices, while the PTI Kisan Wing opposes exports and seeks an independent forensic audit. Dawn's article argues that the burden of proof lies with the industry and that permission needs enforceable safeguards.