Express Tribune Editorials 6th March 2025
Posted: Thu Mar 06, 2025 3:44 am
Soaring sugar price
Like clockwork, the sugar mafia has once again tightened its grip on the market ahead of Ramazan, manipulating supply and inflating prices to maximise profits. While the federal government and sugar millers claim to be offering sugar at Rs130 per kg, retailers in Karachi are already charging Rs160 per kg, with wholesale rates climbing steadily. The price of a 50 kg sugar bag has surged by Rs150-200 in just a few days, exposing the unchecked role of speculators and hoarders.
Sugar industry is dominated by tycoons and feudal elites who own sugar mills and enjoy deep connections with politicians and bureaucrats. These powerful figures, often with direct ties to the government, manipulate production and distribution while regulators turn a blind eye. This collusion ensures that while consumers suffer, the profits of the sugar cartel remain intact. This is nothing more than corruption and deliberate profiteering. Demand predictably doubles during Ramazan, from 550,000 tonnes to 1.1 million tonnes, and yet the authorities remain slow to act. The federal and provincial governments must launch an aggressive crackdown to dismantle these profiteering networks. Warehouses hoarding sugar must be raided, and those behind this price manipulation must face strict penalties. Mere price caps and hollow assurances will not suffice. Until the government demonstrates the political will to break the sugar cartel's monopoly, ordinary citizens will continue to suffer at the hands of a few powerful profiteers.
The sugar mafia has operated with impunity for far too long, exploiting the religious and cultural significance of Ramazan for profit. If the government is serious about consumer protection, it must dismantle this exploitative network once and for all. Otherwise, the cycle will repeat next year, and once again, ordinary citizens will pay the price while profiteers walk free.
Rebuilding Gaza
Arab leaders have come up with their own reconstruction plan for Gaza – an alternative to US President Donald Trump's 'Middle East Riviera' vision which features clearing the devastated enclave of the Palestinians and handing its control to Washington in the name of rebuilding. While the Trump administration officials insist that Palestinian displacement would be "temporary" and that no American troops would be involved in Gaza, Trump has himself contradicted this, stating that Palestinians would not return to Gaza from their place of relocation because "they're going to have much better housing... a permanent place for them."
The Trump plan fits well into Netanyahu's expansionist designs and the concept of Greater Israel, necessitating the Arab world to come up with a substitute. And while the Arab summit in Cairo, on Tuesday, adopted a $53 billion Gaza reconstruction plan proposed by Egypt, two major questions remain answered: one, with Hamas not acceptable to the US and some Arab countries, who will govern Gaza; and two, which countries will provide the billions of dollars needed for reconstruction. Well, on the issue of governance, the idea is to set up an administrative committee of independent, professional Palest¬inian technocrats to take up the task of Gaza governance. The committee, as agreed at the Arab summit, "would be responsible for the oversight of humanitarian aid and managing the Strip's affairs for a temporary period, in preparation for the return of the Palestinian Authority". As for reconstruction funds, oil-rich Gulf states will obviously have to take the major burden.
That the Arabs have spoken with one voice on Gaza reconstruction is a welcome first step. The next would be how the Arab bloc handles pressure from Washington.
Trump's praise
The appreciation from US President Donald Trump on Pakistan's role in counter-terrorism hints at greater cooperation in times to come. Speaking before the joint session of Congress, Trump lauded Islamabad's unfettered support in helping net a key terrorist involved in the 2021 Kabul Airport bombing. The sentiment was reciprocated by PM Shehbaz Sharif as he reaffirmed Pakistan's determination to combat terrorism.
Trump's acknowledgment is the way to go as any anti-terror protocol would be incomplete in the region without Pakistan. This calls for renewed coordination in defence and intelligence spheres, and the largesse that the US has exhibited by approving $397 million for Pakistan's F-16 fighter jet fleet maintenance is a sign of farsightedness. While Islamabad is an allied-ally of Washington, and the relationship has survived crests and troughs, the menace of terrorism calls for chalking out a new roadmap for the region and beyond. Working together in ushering normalcy in Afghanistan and taking out terror sanctuaries are indispensable steps. Washington's realisation testifies that Pakistan is not isolated anymore, and there are enough common denominators to act upon.
The consolatory words from Washington came hours after a daredevil attack on Bannu Cantonment, which claimed the lives of five army personnel as they valiantly resisted an ambush. The terrorists had tried to enter the fortified compound with the help of suicide bombers, resulting in a heavy exchange of fire. According to ISPR, all the 16 terrorists were gunned down and the attack was successfully repulsed.
It needs to be noted that the zone has become a lynchpin for extra-territorial actors who make their way from across the western borders. It should be studied in the wider context of international terrorism, and this is where major powers, especially the US, must stand firm to exterminate the menace. Supporting Pakistan in fighting terrorism is a must for cleansing the entire region of unscrupulous elements, whose activities are detrimental to peace and security as well as regional economies.
Like clockwork, the sugar mafia has once again tightened its grip on the market ahead of Ramazan, manipulating supply and inflating prices to maximise profits. While the federal government and sugar millers claim to be offering sugar at Rs130 per kg, retailers in Karachi are already charging Rs160 per kg, with wholesale rates climbing steadily. The price of a 50 kg sugar bag has surged by Rs150-200 in just a few days, exposing the unchecked role of speculators and hoarders.
Sugar industry is dominated by tycoons and feudal elites who own sugar mills and enjoy deep connections with politicians and bureaucrats. These powerful figures, often with direct ties to the government, manipulate production and distribution while regulators turn a blind eye. This collusion ensures that while consumers suffer, the profits of the sugar cartel remain intact. This is nothing more than corruption and deliberate profiteering. Demand predictably doubles during Ramazan, from 550,000 tonnes to 1.1 million tonnes, and yet the authorities remain slow to act. The federal and provincial governments must launch an aggressive crackdown to dismantle these profiteering networks. Warehouses hoarding sugar must be raided, and those behind this price manipulation must face strict penalties. Mere price caps and hollow assurances will not suffice. Until the government demonstrates the political will to break the sugar cartel's monopoly, ordinary citizens will continue to suffer at the hands of a few powerful profiteers.
The sugar mafia has operated with impunity for far too long, exploiting the religious and cultural significance of Ramazan for profit. If the government is serious about consumer protection, it must dismantle this exploitative network once and for all. Otherwise, the cycle will repeat next year, and once again, ordinary citizens will pay the price while profiteers walk free.
Rebuilding Gaza
Arab leaders have come up with their own reconstruction plan for Gaza – an alternative to US President Donald Trump's 'Middle East Riviera' vision which features clearing the devastated enclave of the Palestinians and handing its control to Washington in the name of rebuilding. While the Trump administration officials insist that Palestinian displacement would be "temporary" and that no American troops would be involved in Gaza, Trump has himself contradicted this, stating that Palestinians would not return to Gaza from their place of relocation because "they're going to have much better housing... a permanent place for them."
The Trump plan fits well into Netanyahu's expansionist designs and the concept of Greater Israel, necessitating the Arab world to come up with a substitute. And while the Arab summit in Cairo, on Tuesday, adopted a $53 billion Gaza reconstruction plan proposed by Egypt, two major questions remain answered: one, with Hamas not acceptable to the US and some Arab countries, who will govern Gaza; and two, which countries will provide the billions of dollars needed for reconstruction. Well, on the issue of governance, the idea is to set up an administrative committee of independent, professional Palest¬inian technocrats to take up the task of Gaza governance. The committee, as agreed at the Arab summit, "would be responsible for the oversight of humanitarian aid and managing the Strip's affairs for a temporary period, in preparation for the return of the Palestinian Authority". As for reconstruction funds, oil-rich Gulf states will obviously have to take the major burden.
That the Arabs have spoken with one voice on Gaza reconstruction is a welcome first step. The next would be how the Arab bloc handles pressure from Washington.
Trump's praise
The appreciation from US President Donald Trump on Pakistan's role in counter-terrorism hints at greater cooperation in times to come. Speaking before the joint session of Congress, Trump lauded Islamabad's unfettered support in helping net a key terrorist involved in the 2021 Kabul Airport bombing. The sentiment was reciprocated by PM Shehbaz Sharif as he reaffirmed Pakistan's determination to combat terrorism.
Trump's acknowledgment is the way to go as any anti-terror protocol would be incomplete in the region without Pakistan. This calls for renewed coordination in defence and intelligence spheres, and the largesse that the US has exhibited by approving $397 million for Pakistan's F-16 fighter jet fleet maintenance is a sign of farsightedness. While Islamabad is an allied-ally of Washington, and the relationship has survived crests and troughs, the menace of terrorism calls for chalking out a new roadmap for the region and beyond. Working together in ushering normalcy in Afghanistan and taking out terror sanctuaries are indispensable steps. Washington's realisation testifies that Pakistan is not isolated anymore, and there are enough common denominators to act upon.
The consolatory words from Washington came hours after a daredevil attack on Bannu Cantonment, which claimed the lives of five army personnel as they valiantly resisted an ambush. The terrorists had tried to enter the fortified compound with the help of suicide bombers, resulting in a heavy exchange of fire. According to ISPR, all the 16 terrorists were gunned down and the attack was successfully repulsed.
It needs to be noted that the zone has become a lynchpin for extra-territorial actors who make their way from across the western borders. It should be studied in the wider context of international terrorism, and this is where major powers, especially the US, must stand firm to exterminate the menace. Supporting Pakistan in fighting terrorism is a must for cleansing the entire region of unscrupulous elements, whose activities are detrimental to peace and security as well as regional economies.