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SC wants policy on sugar prices by 29th

* Court orders provision of sugar at Rs 40/kg until final decision
* Finance secretary says comprehensive strategy to be finalised soon

By Masood Rehman

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court will decide on merit a case related to sugar prices if the government fails to form a policy to set prices by next Thursday, a three-member bench said on Friday.

The bench consisting of Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, Justice Jawwad S Khawaja and Justice Ghulam Rabbani was presiding over a hearing of the case.

Acting Attorney General Shah Khawar told the court that a “comprehensive strategy” was being evolved to set sugar prices and prevent a supply shortage in future. The court was also told that a high-level meeting, to be presided over by Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, was also being held to resolve issues related to sugar prices.

Policy to be finalised: Appearing on notice, Finance Secretary Salman Siddique told the court that the government was aware of the problems being faced by the masses, and a policy for sugar prices would soon be finalised keeping in view all the issues.

The court then directed that domestic consumers be provided sugar at Rs 40 a kilogramme “at all costs” until the case was decided.

In line with a request by the federal government, the court adjourned the hearing until October 29. The court also ordered the government to come sup with a “solid policy” at the next hearing.

On September 8, a division bench of the Lahore High Court (LHC) had dismissed an application by the Punjab Sugar Mills Associations (PSMA) seeking a stay order against an LHC verdict – which set sugar prices at Rs 40 a kilogramme.

The PSMA, some other sugar mill owners and sugar dealers then moved the SC against the LHC order.

The SC had warned that contempt proceedings would be launched if sugar mills failed to comply with the LHC verdict, and summoned a two-year-old report by NAB on a sugar scandal. Complete data on sugar production over the last three years was also summoned.

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