PM Imran forms 3-member committee to probe sugar crisis.

ISLAMABAD -- Prime Minister Imran Khan on Friday constituted a three-member committee to probe the recent countrywide hike in sugar prices.

According to a document issued by the Prime Minister's Office, a copy of which is available with Dawn.com, the committee will comprise the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) director general, a representative of the Intelligence Bureau not below grade 20/21, and the Punjab Anti-Corruption Establishment director general.

Some of the key points the committee will investigate include:

Whether the [sugar] production this year was low as compared to last year. Was low production the primary reason for the increase in price?;

Did the mills purchase sugarcane at exorbitantly higher prices than the minimum support price? If yes, then reasons thereof;

Reasons for mills not purchasing sugarcane, for a limited period of a few weeks, from the farmers and its impact, if any, on sugar prices;

Market manipulation/cartelisation by sugar mills, if any;

Impact of forward contracts on the prices of sugar and whether any malafide is involved;

Hoarding at the wholesale or retail level and within sugar mills vis-a-vis stocks of last year;

Was the sugar export justified? Any...