By Muhammad Luqman
Farmers and millers in Punjab are preparing for the Punjab sugarcane crushing 2025, an unusually early season set to begin by mid-November. The move comes after the federal government’s Sugar Advisory Board set the schedule, even as some industry groups voice concerns.
The Pakistan Sugar Mills Association (PSMA) has expressed reservations about the November 15 start, saying sugar recovery rates are low and current stockpiles can meet national demand until mid-December.
Early Starters Lead the Way in Punjab Sugarcane Crushing 2025
Despite the debate, some mills are already moving ahead. Ramzan Sugar Mills in Chiniot district has begun operations several days before the government deadline, while JK Sugar Mills in Khanewal district plans to start on November 17.
Zahid Mahmood Qureshi, Director Technical at the Pakistan Society of Sugar Technologists (PSST), told this reporter that sugar manufacturing is not yet economically feasible.
“The sugar content in different parts of the province ranges from 7.5 percent to 8.5 percent, below the required 9 percent,” he explained.
Sugar Content and Crop Varieties Affect Recovery
Qureshi noted that sucrose levels depend heavily on the sugarcane variety. Superior varieties produce higher sugar content, while inferior types yield lower recovery.
He added that a recovery rate of 10 percent or more over the three-month crushing season is usually profitable for mills.
However, scientists at the Sugarcane Research Institute (SRI) in Faisalabad have offered a different outlook.
Optimism from Scientists
Dr. Kashif Munir, Director and Principal Scientist at SRI, said sucrose recovery in southern Punjab is expected to reach around 10 percent, exceeding the required 9 percent. “In central Punjab, sugar content may reach or approach 9 percent by mid-November,” he told this reporter. “Most mills can safely start crushing on November 15 according to government directives.”
Government Rules Push Mills to Start
Sugar mill owners say they must follow the government schedule to avoid fines under the Punjab Sugar Factories Control Act, 1950, updated in 2021 and 2022.
“Most sugar mills in Punjab are starting operations according to the government deadline to avoid penalties,” said Muhammad Waheed Chaudhary, Managing Director of Hunza Sugar Mills Group, in an interview with this reporter.
His group plans to start mills in Faisalabad and Jhang during the third week of November.
Technical Concerns vs Political Decisions
Chaudhary criticized the timing, saying it should have been based on technical grounds rather than political reasons. “The sugar content right now is between 7.5 and 8.5 percent, below the required 9 percent—but we have to start crushing to avoid government penalties,” he said.
He expressed hope that most sugar mills in Punjab, especially in Faisalabad, Gujranwala, and Sargodha divisions, will be fully operational by the third week of November, noting that smaller mill owners often lack political influence.
Author Profile
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Muhammad Luqman is an experienced journalist specializing in agriculture, livestock, and rural development in Pakistan.
He writes insightful reports on government initiatives, economic potential, and policy impacts in the agriculture and livestock sectors, highlighting how local programs shape livelihoods and boost national and international markets.
