PSMA announces new office-bearers

LAHORE, Sep 30 (APP): Pakistan Sugar Mills Association (PSMA) here Wednesday announced elections at its 2026 Annual General Meeting 2026, according to which Asim Ghani Usman as PSMA Chairman; Muhammad Rafique as Senior Vice Chairman; Aslam Farooq as Chairman, (South Zone) and Khan Muhammad Ashraf as Chairman (North Zone) have been elected unopposed.

PSMA spokesman told media that members of the executive committee were also elected. Asim Ghani Usman, Aslam Farooq, Ahmed Bawani, Dr. Tara Chand, and Zaid Zakaria were elected for the South Zone, while Muhammad Rafiq, Khan Muhammad Ashraf, Ahmed Ali Tariq, Hasan Ahmed, and Ahmed Jahanzeb Khan were elected for the North Zone.

The outgoing Chairman Chaudhry Zaka Ashraf presented the annual report highlighting the challenges faced by sugar industry and termed deregulation of the sugar sector as the only solution to the industry’s challenges. He extended his best wishes to the newly-elected Chairman and members of the executive committee and reaffirmed his commitment to working together.

Expressing their views, the newly-elected members highlighted the issues facing the sugar industry.

Newly elected Chairman Asim Ghani Usman said that the sugar industry is facing major challenges. He added that sugar industry will form a committee comprising five to six members to submit recommendations to the government regarding deregulation. Growth in any sector becomes possible only through deregulation. Major crops and agro-based industries are deregulated and they are playing a vital role in national development and contributing to exports. After deregulation, comprehensive research on sugarcane seed will become possible which will enable farmers to access better seed varieties.

Asim Ghani stated that while inflation has risen across the country, an outcry is raised specifically over sugar prices. Sugar mills are closing down because low prices prevent them from recovering their production costs. The sales tax should be reduced from 18 percent. The government may deregulate the sugar sector before the start of 2026-27 crushing season. If the mills shut down, the loss will not be limited to the mills alone; farmers will also suffer. “We urge the government to immediately deregulate the sugar sector.”