Subsidy of Rs29b given to sugar industry in last five years: Shahzad Akbar

ISLAMABAD (92 News) – Special Assistant on Accountability Shahzad Akbar has said that a subsidy of 29 billion rupees was given to sugar industry in last five years in contrary to the subsidy of just Rs2.4 billion by the PTI-led Punjab government. Speaking at a news conference, the special assistant said that former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi awarded a subsidy of Rs20 billion out of Rs26 billion on sugar in last five years. “Khaqan Abbasi appeared before the inquiry commission like a Tarzan, but failed to respond.” Shahzad Akbar said previously the sugar mafia expanded with the support of corrupt governments, but this time, they are caught red handed in Prime Minister Imran Khan’s government. Shahzad Akbar said publishing an inquiry report of the sugar scandal is a big step and it will further facilitate the process of accountability in the country. “No government dared to take such a step earlier,” he added. In one year only, as heavy loss as Rs 300 Billion was injected to the government exchequer. Salman Shahbaz the son of PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif was the main beneficiary of the subsidy given by Shahid Khaqan Abbasi who claims himself a genius. The special assistant mentioned that PTI-led federal government has never given any kind of subsidy and only allowed export of surplus sugar. He said that previous government of Pakistan Muslim League-N granted 26.6 billion rupees. He said former Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, alone, had given a subsidy of 20 billion rupees on the influence of Salman Shahbaz. Shahzad Akbar said Sindh Government run by PPP was too not far behind in granting subsidy to the sugar cartels. He said Sindh government granted a subsidy of 4.12 billion rupees of which Omni Group was the biggest beneficiary. Shahzad Akbar further mentioned that opposition parties, especially spokespersons of PML-N are misinterpreting the sugar inquiry report, who need to study the lengthy document again. He said sugar report has given comprehensive findings and found regulator guilty of not checking the wrong doings in export of sugar and granting subsidy without calculating cost of production and due diligence. Shahzad Akbar maintained that Prime Minister Imran Khan has fulfilled his promise by constituting the sugar commission and making its report public.