I had a bizarre encounter with our corner shopwallah the other day, which went something like this.
‘Ayee?’ (Has it come?)
‘Abhi nahin. Kal try karna.’ (Not yet. Try tomorrow.)
So I did, and he still didn’t have it. This continued for several days, our conversation going from business-like, to desperate, to sinister. Until, one fine morning, as I was buying eggs, he said: ‘Bari mushkil say mili hai. Abhi lay lain. Khas gahakon kay liye hai. Pindi say mangwai hai, Rs. 70 rupees fi kilo kai hisab say.’ (Found it with great difficulty. Take it now. We’ve kept it for special customers. Brought it from Pindi, for Rs. 70 per kilo.)
Now Mr. Khan – doe-eyed and probably in his early twenties – has been a shopkeeper at the Khattak store for over five years. It’s one of those tiny shops with a little linoleum counter peeling at the corner, a pay phone for those days when you’ve left the mobile at home, and shelves swollen with merchandise. He even stocks such exotic items as tinned sardines and pitted olives in a small shelf of imported goodies next to the counter. We often do not have to pay him immediately if we do not have the cash. And he is scrupulously honest, returning change when I forget.
By the end of this particular transaction, however, I felt a little dirty. For one thing, I know and he knows, that he is supposed to sell for Rs. 40 a kilo. For another, he is the Khattak shopkeeper, not a drug dealer. And yet, that is exactly what it felt like. This is not cocaine or contraband; this is plain ol’ sugar. In a country that is fifth on the list of top sugarcane producers in the world, should sugar have disappeared from the markets?
I have to admit to a little guilt when I made chocolate cake after my five-year-old pestered me for days. Four cups of sugar in the cake, five tablespoons in the icing. But a tepid middle-class conscience is nothing to the hordes invading the government-run Utility Stores, where the poor wait for four hours to buy a kilo of the sweet white stuff. They are not just seething, they are enraged. And rightly so.
The ‘cheeni ka bohran’ or sugar crisis has been going on since Ramazan. First, it was blamed on the usual pre-Ramazan profiteering: jacking up the prices of essential commodities to take advantage of the month of fasting and feasting. Wholesalers and millers were hoarding sacks to create an artificial shortage. Then it turned out that sugar cane growers had switched from sugar cane to wheat because the government had raised the wheat support price to give incentives to farmers to grow more wheat. In other words, the sugar crisis was apparently a derivative of the wheat crisis.
The government conducted a few raids and issued statements on how international prices had also gone up. A minister even said people should consume less because it is ‘injurious to health.’ Yes, Pakistanis like their tea sweet and they may be the third largest consumers of sugar in Asia. Yes, over-consumption leads to diabetes and obesity and all manner of ills. But even if sugar is not a right of the masses, does that mean it has to be a luxury?
The activist Supreme Court has ordered that sugar be made available at Rs. 40 a kilo. As the tussle between the highest court of the land, the Pakistan Sugar Mills Association (PSMA), the federal government and the Punjab government demonstrates, it’s not really the economics that’s the problem.
In a TV news report, one angry sugar customer at a Utility Store lashed out at ‘the sugar mafia.’ The Competition Commission of Pakistan has called it ‘collusive behaviour’ on the part of the Pakistan mill owners association and buyers.
In an excellent four-part analysis of the sugar market, development economist Dr. Adeel Malik wrote:
If there is one industry that best reflects the underlying power structure in Pakistan, it is sugar. The role of politics is central; from the sanctioning of a sugar mill to its financing and operation. It is instructive to look at the ownership structure. Of the nearly 78 sugar mills, at least 50 per cent are owned by politicians or their family members. They sit on all sides of the political divide, represented in cabinet, treasury and opposition benches.
He goes on to argue that the sugar industry has flourished under democratic and military dispensations alike. ‘Its links with politics, patronage and protection’ setting it apart from other industries.
If the solution is systemic and political, price-fixing, recovering stockpiles, importing the expensive international variety and making it available at Utility Stores are then short-term measures. The government – running dangerously low on credibility as it is – could demonstrate that it genuinely represents the people’s interests; it could recover footing for a people lurching from crisis to crisis.
Or it could order an inconclusive inquiry, as happened in the case of the 2006 sugar crisis.
Shoulda. Woulda. Coulda.
Amber Rahim Shamsi is a mother, journalist, and foodie whose experiments in the kitchen haven’t always turned out quite right. But that hasn’t stopped her from trying, to the dismay of her family.
I think sugar crises are just artificial and we can only eliminate it by boycotting the purchase of sugar. Because we can survive without sugar. These all crises are because of our own action.
Like in Pakistan, in India too the sugar factories are owned by politicians.
We may be separated by an imaginary line but the the basic character of the people remains the same
Nice post. Thanks.
I have a suggestion in a lighter vein,
Get your greatest cricketer to help out Mr Wasim Akram, he is a diabetic patient, he and like suffering people should go to the street and educate the ordinary people why sugar is bad, and how it kills, the message should be spread to small towns and villages, it will help reducing the demand for sugar and hence the price as the sugar mafia will come down to its knee,
I love Pakistani food, but am scared to eat it regularly, whenever I visit any Pakistani family I usually refuse tea, would rather have fruits in their house and the reason is simple, the sweeten their tea so much its unbelievable, almost 2 to 3 spoons of sugar minimum per cup and if they love you a spoon extra,
the food too is very oily and very tasty but unhealthy specially for us city folks, if you are a villager working the field then its ok,
once the people are educated about the dangers of consumption of excess sugar and oil (Ghee) demand will be down and price will be reasonable
North Indian have the same habits as Pakistanis
eat less sugar pay less be healthy
Regards
Richie
A very well written blog!
I hope sugar mill owners have not secretly conspired to follow the suit of restaurateurs. Just until a few years ago it was very much possible to have a nice buffet in Karachi for 400 rupees or so. Now it is almost 1000. And rising. True one pound/dollar/dirham or whatever buys a lot more rupees now but it is not only people coming for vacation from abroad who frequent those restaurants.
Just goes on to show how people are being forced to starve themselves of life’s little ‘khuisan’. As for sugar, I absolutely agree with Amber that ‘even if sugar is not a right of the masses, does that mean it has to be a luxury?’ The commerce minister’s comment was irresponsible and, not a little, surprising. Excessive consumption of salt is also ‘injurious to health.’ It should logically follow, therefore, that the next commodity which is hoarded in order to artificially inflate its price is salt.
I salute the nation of Pakistan. The reason is the enemy of Pakistan is trying for a very long period to make this country disappear from the map of the world. They try time to time different ways. Because they know the nation becomes very angry and get out on the streets for protests and demolish and destroy everything, even though they are the ones that are going to suffer after wards. As I said, I salute this nation now they have understood the game of their enemy, whoever they are. The sugar crisis is one of their games as one of my friend mentioned about the Ayub Khan’s downfall due to sugar crisis. So they are repeating, but this time the nation did not protest the same way. I can assure you the enemy of this nation will try something else, like publishing cartoons etc, etc. God bless you all
Why love an enemy: I do not understand why people are in love with sugar and especially with white sugar which has proved to be a killer. The roti or chawal we eat and most of them become fat and sugar in our body more importantly it becomes a life threat when the liver starts overproducing the same enemy.
Sugar adversely affects our immune system, upsets our body’s mineral balance, adds to hyperactivity, anxiety, depression, concentration difficulties, and crankiness in children. It produces a significant rise in triglycerides. It reduces high density cholesterol (HDLs and elevates cholesterol (LDLs), This may cause kidney damage, coronary heart disease, chromium deficiency, copper deficiency, interference with absorption of calcium and magnesium, increase fasting levels of blood glucose, promote tooth decay, produce an acidic stomach, raise adrenaline levels in children, lead to periodontal disease.
High intake of sugar increases the risk of disease, may contribute to diabetes, contribute to osteoporosis, decrease in insulin sensitivity.
Sugar leads to decreased glucose tolerance, can cause cardiovascular disease, can increase systolic blood pressure, causes food allergies, can cause free radical formation in the bloodstream.
Sugar can cause an increase in delta, alpha and theta brain waves, which can alter the mind’s ability to think clearly, can increase blood platelet adhesiveness which increases risk of blood clots and strokes, can increase insulin responses in those consuming high-sugar diets compared to low sugar diets, increases bacterial fermentation in the colon.
I am sure if the consumer are informed with sincerity and fairness approach about the side effects of the monster, they will definitely drift away from consuming the killer food unless they have resistance problem.
OZ says:
“I don’t think consuming less will solve the problem. If we consume less, we will temporarily solve the “sugar ka bohran”. But, then prices of other commodities will go up.”
I disagree with him. Sugar,salts and spices are used just for taste. Use sugar free just for a month and you will develop a taste of sugar free foods which will make the item unwanted for you. Sugar is not essential in any case for your body, rather it causes diabetes and obesity. Sugar is greatly used in medicines specially syrups which not only increase value of medicines but the quantity of sugar used in such medicines reduces its medicinal quantity to that extent.
Nice article. I would like to congratulate Dawn management for having such thought-provoking writers on their staff.
I live in US. I see elections, here, fought on issues such as how to handle/design future and alternative energy needs, how to preserve this or that animal species, how to get cure for cancer and other deadly diseases. And in countries like India and Pakistan, come elections and the disappearance of sugar and other essential commodities decide which party is going to win. What a difference? I just think and go crazy?
How come sugar is available in bulk to bakers, restaurants and confectioners, not individuals who only want a little for daily requirements?
PPP slogan for collecting the votes was Roti, Kapra Aur Makan. After the Election their slogan goes opposite as they took away Roti from Poor, Makaan from poor and now we are left with only Kapra.
We thought ” Azad Adliya ” will help the rights of Poor people of Paksitan , however nothing prominent and authenticated came out from so called Azad Adliya. Order were issued from the Supreme Court that sell Sugar at 40 Rupees and after that sugar disappeared from market. What is this? is this the solution to such a basic requirement of this nation. where is government and where is Azad adliya and our elected leaders going?. All these corrupt leaders we have in Parliament have their own sugar Mills. So who will go and get these people responsible for this shortage. We can only look towards Almighty Allah and ask for help “Ghaib se Madad Farma Perwerdigaar” World is looking towards bigger issues Economic problems, global warming etc etc and we are looking towards Atta and Chinee. This is really a joke a very sad joke with this nation.
Great article very well written. Unbelieveable so called ” shortage” weather it is electricity, flour or sugar and I would not be wrong to say a shortage of a good leader. The only solution to this countries every day shortage is a good pure and right leader which we never had after the death of the Great Quaid. Very pity for this great country. We are facing a dilemma of not having a leader and instead we are strangled with these corrupt, dishonest politicians and leaders. Poor nation of Pakistan is to be blamed who went and elected these culprits again both major parties were given chances twice earlier and nothing was delivered from both and yet again we went and voted in favor of these people. “now face it” . An agricultural country is facing these shortage then from where we will get these basic necessities.
May Almighty Allah bless us all and this great country.
Four decades ago, the addition of four ‘anaas’ to the price of sugar to twelve ‘anaas’ which brought down the firmly established rule of Ayub Khan to its knees. And now the increase of couple dozen rupees is not having any impact on the life of the government.
The last straw which will break the back of the nation, will be the shortage of another life saving ingredient of daily food. Let us wait for the establishment of Salt mafia.
So what if Pakistani’s don’t get any sugar?, Is it a basic necessity? are people going to die if they don’t get their daily dose? Let the free market work, at the very least the poor of this country will see something good out of it; better health and they’ll surely need it for the upcoming revolution.
Pakistan is the country whose former Prime Minister, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, said “We will eat grass if we have to get a nuclear bomb”. Looks like his wish for his country has finally come true. hehe
Nicely written as usual by our talented Amber. My Indian family and friends follow your writing a lot Amber and you have a huge fan following in our group. Keep it up.
Nice one ! , good to see everyday issues as such being shed some light on. Our country is full of such imbalances which are truly unbelievable in a country that until not long ago used to pride itself on its agricultural skills and resources.
Good work , hope to read more on elements that impact the daily lives of people that rely on the government to provide and have no other means what so ever to fulfill their very basic needs.
Good insight. Being an outsider Expat Pakistani looking in at Pakistani issues, actually, I don’t think Pakistan and Pakistani society is that much unique when it comes to such attributes. Alot of nations around the world have similar issues. Its the hallmark of the developing nations, that such issues arise, and out of these experiences does a nation feel a need to evolve a system.
This whole episode of Sugar Crisis in Pakistan reminds you of the Sugar hoarders and Stockpilers during the late 1800s in the Chicago area. The whole commodities market evolved based on the strict laws and rules and regulations that were developed in that society as a result of those experiences. Hopefully a system will also evolve in Pakistan. Insha-Allah. Hum Sub Umeed say hain.
God help those who help themself. Stop asking from west and grow more food, teach your nation to invest in education and good morals. Rather asking for aid, learn to work hard and earn.
I know that countless jobs, and a great deal of trade, in Pakistan are tied to the business of sugar, but I have a feeling that this so-called
“sugar crisis” just might be a blessing in disguise i.e if it ends up forcing the Pakistani’s to seriously consider cutting down their overall sugar consumption. After all, plain white sugar is nothing more than a “sweet poison.”
One of my friends in UK has been living here for over eight years and have worked 7 days a week to fulfil the requirements of his family in Pakistan. Once I saw him putting three table spoons of sugar in a tea. I told him “you shouldn’t have this much sugar in a tea, its not good for”. He Replied “Yar eak hi taa cheaz methi ha zindagi wich ooe wi chad dya tey far zindagi wich kuch mitha nahi raa jay ga”
I guess using of sugar is a personal choice and politicians should do more to prevent shortage of sugar rather that giving advices for health.
Sugar prices have risen world over. This has nothing to do with Pakistan. It is a pure supply and demand issue. When prices rise, the supply will come back in the market thought it could take time. All the hoarding/corruption is symptom (effect) of supply crunch and not the cause.
This pattern is likely to continue in future with other commodities as Asian economies grow. Supply takes time to catch up.
Unfortunately the poor suffer but you cannot blame any entity (apart from Asian consumers) for higher prices.
In India sugar has reached almost rs. 40/-. In a year price of sugar has gone through the roof – from 17- to 40 and increasing. Sugar companies not surprisingly have made record profit during this period and started to be considered as blue chips. Most interesting thing is, it seems no one is bothered. ordinary people like us are the receiving end and for industry and stock market time has never been so good.
I don’t think consuming less will solve the problem. If we consume less, we will temporarily solve the “sugar ka bohran”. But, then prices of other commodities will go up. Then they will ask us to consume less of those commodities!!
There is presence of mafia that is controlling the prices.
As this was a front side article I was hoping to read something which would have expanded my horizon. We all know what is happening on the street. What happened to investigative journalism?
Sugar prices in India have risen substantially in recent past. The reason is same, raising of Purchase price of Wheat and Rice. Farmers switch their crop as per the prevailing prices. There has been a reduction to the extent of 45% in sugar cane cultivation as compared to previous years in India. Besides in India the opening of Multi Commodity Exchange has skewed the market forces. People with deep pockets are manipulating the food products.
Tried a cup of tea without sugar – did not like the taste, so I am giving up the tea. What next ?
Its fabulous. Hope this way we will cut down consumption of sugar. Hope it happens to other crystallized products like salt. We consume too much of oil, salt and sugar anyways. Hope this will be bring a healthy life style and above all “AWARENESS”.
A very nice article. Keep it up. Some of my friends have been saying that people should boycott sugar consumption and the prices will come down. Well they are right in one way, because sugar is not good for health anyways. But I would like to add that what bothers me is not the sugar crisis, the problem is that Pakistan is a country and food crisis like such is unacceptable. We have miserably failed in providing education and health care to our people. Basic facilities like gas and electricity are no less than luxuries. But food is the basic thing a human being needs to survive. Its a pity. You feel this more when you live abroad in a develop country and you realise what their governments are doing for their people and then you ponder over the land of the pure and realise how unlucky its citizens are to have such leaders.
I was reading a school book on Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) life for my niece (10 years old) last night. One chapter was about the life of Arabs before Prophet Mohammad. And I swear to god, I felt like living in Pakistan is just like living in Arab before Prophet Mohammad. The only difference might be we are little more civilized and advance.
I think we should start buying rice in bulk, as we never know it might be the next.
Amber,
Good evening first!
Really nice observation and to much necessary too, see here in India the same situation. A year ago it was around 13-15 Rs. / KG and now a days it is about 35 Rs / KG and another same situation, most of sugar mills are owned by those who are in power and majority. So, they are feeding us very ’sweet’ sugar. It is being ordinary to luxury now a days. Garibon ki chai kadvi ho rahi he.
Why? we all knows yet we are not doing anything else for those who are there on strength of our own votes. So one step ahead we should not only sit here by expressing our anger, we should to go ahead with mass efforts. Either the days is no longer far ‘where we have to pay for our breaths, I m sure.
Anyway, again I must be thankful for your nice topic here. Keep it up.
Ashvin
Surat city, INDIA.
Nice article. I think the biggest reason of the sugar crisis is because of our government. Firstly there is already inflation in our country so why government wants to raise up the price of sugar. Few months ago there was a flour crisis in our country and at that time govt wants to raised up the price of flour. And now they wants to raise the price of sugar, how long we suffer it? and I am with the Private channel team in the sugar boycott and I appreciate them for this brilliant step.
Dr. Adeel very rightly cited the parallel power-structure underlying everything from politics to economics in Pakistan.
It’s obvious that any measures by the current governmental structure are futile considering the issuers of these measures are the very ones benefiting from this cheeni ka buhran.
I wouldn’t say it’s practical or possible, but if only our nation would stop consuming sugar for a week or two, these hoarders would be back in their minds. But then again, dreaming is not happening.
Thanks Amber jee. Nice article. Bravo
It is such a sweet article that I tried it in my sugar free cup of tea and it acted as a sweetner. Next time I will mix it in “halwa”.Tabinda rehman should also try it cause she is also in favor of sugar boycott. After all a very nice and worth reading blog from Amber.
Please keep it up.
Frankly speaking I do not disagree with the minister who said we should reduce our consumption of sugar. It is a completely artificial need. Unlike wheat, daal etc. which is basic ingredients of our diet.
Every year we face shortage in one or other way,hope some day we will face shortage of corrupt politicians, leaders, doctors, engineers, builders etc. Please pray we get shortage of those people as soon as possible.
Why are we such big sugar consumers anyway? Our over dependence on the stuff is ridiculous. The obsession with sweet “doodhpatti” is so endemic that I get looked at like a martian when I request tea without sugar!
On another note, this whole crisis is representative of the problems in our country. Until we build a society based on justice and fairness nothing will change. The end of Musharraf has done is reopen all the problems the military rule had kept a lid on. The plundering landowners and industrialists are back, only this time there’s unfortunately much less in the trough.
(IF) The sugar crisis is over, let’s see which other will be coming up next our way! What else can we expect from such an agricultural country of ours.
Really suitable article according to the statuesque. Previous days, we were not getting flour now the same scenario is happening with the sugar. No one is there to solve the concern matter I am in the favor of sugar boycott.
Nice article. In Pakistan it is the common men and women who suffer. Those in power either from civilian side or military side have enough resources i.e power to get what they want and the price they want it for. The only solution is to eat less or no sugar so that the mill owners and other with their interest in sugar industry will have to sell sugar at a lower price. The people have lost hope in the government, opposition, judiciary and others who can help them in solving their problems.
What a beautiful article from a stunningly beautiful journalist. I don’t think things will ever change in Pakistan. Its been like this when I was a student at st. pauls high school. Rich will become richer poor will be poorer. Corruption is the name of game, people who play it right win and the poor suffers. I do agree that the people of Pakistan do consume more sugar than average person in the world. I bet average person consumes more than 50kgs of sugar a year, and that I am being very conservative. Reduce sugar consumption price will go down.
All the crises are man made. So the sugar crises is also floated by court. If they don’t interfere, then there will be no sugar crisis.
I request to our honorable court that please don’t interfere into unnecessarily matters. We respect the court and honorable judges.
After Atta, people are not getting suger. whats next item on the agenda of our leaders for the suffering people?
Medicines have become extremely expensive. does any politician care about this? No, they are busy with their own interest.
In my humble view our higher courts are equally responsible in sugar crisis. The day the Lahore High court gave its verdict to sell sugar at 40rs the sugar disappeared from the market. Had the court did not intervene and let the agreement between the government and the sugar mills association at 47rs implemented the crisis would have been resolved at that time.
Thanks for the article. I really appreciate the authors view of buying sugar and feeling like one is buying drugs of some sorts.
Plus all fingers need to be pointed at these owners as all of them are from Political Setup, doing their best to make the lives of people miserable. How would they know sitting in their huge mansions and having tons of sugar.