ISLAMABAD - Ministry of Industries and Production has asked the Interior Ministry on Friday to take stern measures to stop the sugar smuggling at Khokhrapar, Torkham and Chamman borders, as every day dozens of sugar bags are being smuggled to Afghanistan and India. In this regard Ministry of Industries and Production has written a letter to the Interior Ministry. It was observed in the Sugar Advisory Board (SAB) meeting held here in the Ministry to review sugar production stocks and prices position. Federal Minister for Industries and Production Mir Hazar Khan Bijarani presided over the meeting. According to the sources, it was discussed in the meeting that large quantity of sugar is being smuggled to Afghanistan and India, as commodity prices are low in Pakistan against these two countries. Price of sugar in Pakistan is around Rs 70 to Rs 75 per kilogram, while in Afghanistan it surged to Rs 130 per kilogram and in India commodity is available at Rs 100 per kilogram. Sugar Advisory Board has decided that Utility Stores Corporation (USC) would continue to sell sugar at Rs 45 per kilogram at its outlets. Board asked the provincial governments to make ensure that there is no hoarding and they must root out this hoarding menace from the country. The provincial governments ensure that all the sugar mills in their respective provinces must maintain 15 to 20 percent stocks of their production to meet emergency requirements, board decided. The Sugar Advisory Board was informed that 2.3 million-ton sugar has been produced so far. The total estimated consumption throughout the country this year is 4.2 million-ton. To meet the shortfall of 1.1 million ton, Trading Corporation of Pakistan (TCP) has been tasked to import 0.5 million of sugar in next month i.e. March. While the Pakistan Government is negotiating with the Dubai government for import of another 0.7 million tons sugar. Federal Minister for Food and Agriculture Nazar Muhammad Gondal, Federal Secretary Food and Agriculture, Provincial Secretaries for Agriculture and Industries of the four provinces, Federal Secretary Commerce, Additional Secretary Industries and Production, Additional Secretary Finance, Senior Officials from State Bank of Pakistan and Federal Board of Revenue, MD Utility Stores Corporation, Chairman TCP, and Cane Commissioners from Islamabad, Lahore, Sindh and NWFP attended this meeting.