Sweet chaos

Pakistan’s sugar market is spiralling out of control, and the tremors are rattling global soft-commodity markets. What began as a domestic shortfall has morphed into a high-stakes drama of geopolitical brinkmanship, price manipulation, and supply-chain upheaval. A 2.1 million-metric-ton demand gap has forced Islamabad into emergency imports—three tenders in one month. Yes, two of them failed. The third tender for 200,000 metric tons is now in motion, the first shipment due in early September 2025, according to the Ministry of National Food Security and Research.

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Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and the President of Iran H.E. Dr. Masoud Pezeshkian address a joint press stakeout in Islamabad on 3 August 2025.

Pakistan reaffirms support for Iran’s peaceful nuclear programme, targets $10bn trade boost

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday reaffirmed Pakistan’s backing for Iran’s right to pursue nuclear power for peaceful purposes, as the two nations signed a raft of agreements aimed at lifting bilateral trade to $10 billion.

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