**Sugar Prices Spike in Second Week of Ramadan**
[Image of sugar as provided in the original article]
Sugar prices in Pakistan have reached a record high of Rs. 180 per kilogram in several cities, placing an increased financial strain on consumers during the holy month of Ramadan. According to the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS), the price has risen by Rs. 14.22 per kilogram.
Cities like Rawalpindi, Islamabad, and Karachi are experiencing the highest prices, with sugar retailing at Rs. 180 per kilogram. Meanwhile, other major cities including Quetta, Gujranwala, Sialkot, Lahore, and Peshawar are seeing prices between Rs. 175 and Rs. 176 per kilogram.
Sources indicate that the country’s current sugar reserves are projected to be sufficient until October 2025. By February, 56 million tons of sugarcane had been crushed, resulting in the production of 5.3 million tons of sugar.
The government has exported 741,000 metric tons of sugar, with sugar mills holding reserves of 400,000 to 500,000 tons.
A report by the PBS from the previous day also indicated a 0.22 percent increase in weekly inflation, as measured by the Sensitive Price Indicator (SPI), for the week ending March 13. The SPI was recorded at 320.75 points, up from 320.04 points the previous week. Compared to the same week last year, the SPI saw a marginal increase of 0.22 percent.