Pakistan, Aug. 11 -- The Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) has blamed the country's recent sugar shortage on the export of the commodity, which it says was allowed based on inaccurate production and stock estimates. During a high-level meeting in Islamabad chaired by Federal Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, CCP officials revealed that the Sugar Advisory Board's flawed data misrepresented the actual sugarcane crop output and available sugar reserves. This, they argued, directly contributed to the ongoing shortage affecting domestic markets.

Officials further pointed out that sugar exports have caused similar crises in the past, urging policymakers to avoid relying solely on statistics provided by sugar mills. They recommended o...