In order to overcome the shortage of sugar, the Trading Corporation of Pakistan (TCP) on Tuesday issued a tender for importing the commodity, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

The tender, which was issued in light of the decision of the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC), is for the import of 50,000 metric tons of sugar.

According to the TV channel, this was the second tender of the current year as the first one was rejected due to the high price.

The move came on the heels of an acute sugar shortage in the market throughout the country, forcing the authorities to take further steps to ensure the availability of the commodity until the imported sugar is arrived.

In this connection, sugar dealers must get them registered before selling the commodity and the deputy commissioners have issued forms for licences in this regard.

The sugar dealer now has to divulge his name, address, godown size, quantity of the commodity and national tax number.

In a related move, the district administration in Arifwala raided a sugar godown and seized 230 hoarded bags of the commodity.

The authorities sealed the godown and lodged a case against the owner.

Assistant Commission Azhar Tariq Wattoo said there was zero tolerance for the sugar hoarders and there will be more action against them.

Reporters Ashraf Khan, Habib Khan, Shahzad Ahmad