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Sugar millers will pay dues to growers: Governor
LAHORE-Punjab Governor, Lt. Gen. (Retd) Khalid Maqbool has
stressed upon sugar mills owners to ensure timely payment of
sugarcane price to the cultivators in order
to safeguard the interest of the farming community.
He was talking to a five-member delegation of Pakistan Sugar
Mills Association, led by its Chairman Ch. Zaka Ashraf, which
called on him at the Governor's House here Thursday.
Provincial Ministers Khurshid Zaman Qureshi, Tariq Hameed and
Secretary Food Punjab Junaid Iqbal were also present.
The Governor said in order to ensure timely price, the sugar
mills owners will make payment to the cultivators in cash or
through cheque. In case of payment through cheque, no mark up
will be charged within the first 30 days. However during the
period exceedings 30 days and up-to 60 days, 12 % annul markup
will be charged.
He said the sugar mills will purchase sugarcane from the
growers at the mill gate and at authorized weighing stations (Kandas).
He said unauthorized weighing stations (Kandas) which normally
indulge in short-weighing and pay less price to sugarcane
growers, will not be allowed to function.
The Governor directed the concerned District Nazims and DCOs
to sternly check the functioning of unauthorized weighing
stations in their respective areas. The offenders in this
regard would be arrested and strict legal action be initiated
against them, he added.
The meeting decided that 14 sugar mills which owe outstanding
dues of Rs. 7.58 crore to cultivators, will make payment to
them within 15 days. Besides, sugar mills will hold meeting of
advisory committees once in a fortnight regularly to resolve
the problems of sugarcane growers on the spot.
The governor said the government will provide all possible
facilities to the sugar millers for obtaining advances from
the commercial banks.
He further directed that special attention should be paid to
ethanol production and power generation with the help of by-
products of sugar to enhance the commercial profitability of
the industry. The Sugar mill owners should carryout their
responsibilities towards promoting high quality sugarcane
varieties for optimal production.
He observed that production cost of sugarcane can only be
reduced if its per acre yield is increased.
The delegation included PSMA members Haroon Akhtar Khan,
Muhammad Anwar Wahla, Ch. Muhammad Aslam and Secretary Col. (Retd)
Maqsood Ahmed Cheema.
December 8, 2001
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