KARACHI: Trading Corporation of Pakistan (TCP) has floated a tender for the import of 50,000 tonnes white sugar for domestic consumption.

Following the directives of the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the cabinet, the state-run grain trader has issued sugar import tender with last date for submitting the bid is April 14, 2021.

According to tender details, TCP invited sealed bids from the international sugar suppliers and manufacturers for supply of 50,000 metric tonnes (5 percent plus or minus) white sugar in bagged cargo through their local offices or representatives (registered with provincial/federal tax authorities) having capacity to supply “white sugar” through worldwide sources.

This is the second tender for the sugar import during this calendar year. Previously, sugar tender was scrapped in March due to exorbitant bid price. The ECC has recently decided to import the sugar to maintain the supply and control the soaring prices in the domestic market.

As per tender’s term bids must be valid for 56 hours from opening of bids and total quantity of white Sugar must reach the designated ports/destination in Pakistan in accordance with given schedule.

The supply/import of White Sugar, as above, shall be governed by the Imports and Exports (Control) Act, 1950, provisions of the Trade Policy in force, PPRA Rules 2004 and the orders/notifications issued there under; and will be in accordance with the requirements/specifications laid down by Pakistan Standards Quality Control Authority (PSQCA), for imported White Sugar.

The interested parties who have previously not fulfilled their contractual obligations with TCP will not be eligible to participate in the bids, unless they clear their dues along with penalties or fulfil their contractual obligations in services and commodities with TCP, as the case may be, before tender opening date.

Furthermore, those firms against which black listing procedures have been initiated by TCP will not be eligible to participate in the tender. TCP reserves the right to accept or reject any or all offers wholly partially or bifurcate or increase/decrease the tender quantity as per PPR-2004.—RIZWAN BHATTI