Islamabad — Facing a deepening sugar crisis, Pakistan has finalised an agreement to import 85,000 metric tonnes of sugar from Azerbaijan in an effort to stabilise prices and address shortages across major cities.
According to the Ministry of National Food Security and Research, financial arrangements have been completed and letters of credit processed with banks. The supply is being routed through Azerbaijan’s state-owned oil and gas company, SOCAR.
Shipments on the Way
The first consignment is expected to arrive at Pakistani ports within the next few weeks. Officials confirmed that the imported sugar meets international quality standards and will be made available in the domestic market at subsidised prices to ease pressure on consumers.
The import is part of a broader government strategy to build reserves and prevent abrupt spikes in the cost of one of the country’s most consumed commodities.
Wider Import Plan Already in Motion
This latest arrangement follows an earlier government order for 200,000 metric tonnes of sugar from other suppliers, the first batches of which are scheduled to reach Pakistan in early September. Together, these imports are intended to expand national stockpiles and temper inflationary pressures in the coming months.
A Crisis Hitting Consumers Hard
The move comes as sugar prices in cities like Karachi, Peshawar and Quetta have soared to as high as Rs190 per kilogramme, far above official price ceilings. Lahore and Islamabad have also reported severe shortages, underscoring the urgency behind the government’s push for imports.
By tapping international markets — including unconventional partners such as Azerbaijan — Pakistan is hoping to bridge the supply gap before the crisis escalates further.
