Pakistan Sugar Mills Association (PSMA) has strongly refuted a story appearing in Business Recorder on January 15, 2011 titled 'statistics belies PSMA estimate'
According to the Association, Javed Kayani, Chairman PSMA, in his meeting with the Federal Minister of Industries and Production on November 11, 2010 gave estimates to the government that PSMA envisaged production of 3.7 to 3.8 million tons and apprised that there is no imminent shortage of sugar in the country for the production year 2010-11 besides sufficient quantity commensurate with any likely shortage is already lying with the Trading Corporation of Pakistan.
PSMA suggested that any decision to import should only be made after the production figures for the season firm up. The same point of view was carried in the Business Recorder of the following day. PSMA has been voicing its concern to put Indian sugar on negative list and has already written two letters to the MOI&P.
The story is an attempt to malign the industry and seems to be motivated by some vested quarters. PSMA has always been providing data as per estimates received from the member mills, therefore, PSMA does not belie any figures as alleged.-PR