Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday placed a complete ban on the export of sugar owing to “domestic demand” while warning strict against against “smuggling and hoarding”.

“Absolutely zero tolerance for those found negligent of their duties,” the prime minister said in a tweet from his personal account on Monday.

According to state-run Radio Pakistan, the premier took the decision in order to stabilize the price of sugar.

He also instructed the departments concerned to keep him informed about implementation of his orders while warning them of serious consequences for non-compliance.

Sugar subsidy

After being elected prime minister last month, PM Shehbaz had announced a Ramazan relief package to reduce the price of 10kg flour bag from Rs550 to Rs400 in Punjab till Eid and per kilogram price of sugar from Rs75 to Rs70 in the province of Punjab through a Rs750 million subsidy.

The Ministry of Industry and Production, in a statement issued last month, had stated that sugar was available at Rs85 per kg at utility stores. “The government of Pakistan is constantly monitoring the supply and availability of sugar and other food items at discounted prices and will ensure the supply of all essentials to the people during the month of Ramazan as per the order of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif,” the ministry had said.