KATHMANDU, Oct 9: Members of a sub-committee of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) formed to look into the soaring prices of consumable goods, including sugar, on the eve of festive season, have questioned whether sugar mills had made commitment with the government to not raise sugar price before imposing restriction on sugar imports. 

Speaking at the meeting of the sub-committee held on Monday, they asked whether there was any agreement on maximum price of sugar with sugar mills before introducing the quantitative restriction. 

The questioning comes amid reports that sugar mills had made commitment to cap retail price of sugar at Rs 63 per kg. 

Earlier on Thursday, the PAC meeting had also directed the government to cap the price of sugar at Rs 63 per kg in line with the previous agreement. However, Industry Minister Matrika Yadav has expressed reservation over the decision of the committee, terming the parliamentary panel’s act of fixing price as ‘impractical’. 

“There was the commitment from sugar mills that they would not charge consumers more than Rs 63 per kg. Was that the case?” Prem Ale, a member of the committee, asked. 

However, all secretaries present in the meeting said that they did not hear the decision. They neither refuted nor admitted the assertion of the lawmaker about the commitment.

 
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