Lahore: The Punjab government has blamed the sugar mills for hoarding the sugar and artificially increasing price of the commodity in the state.
Zaman Wattoo, provincial cane commissioner said, “Most of the sugar mills are hoarding sugar creating shortage of sugar in the market and artificially increasing price.”
Sugar millers have objected to the argument and asked the government to conduct a survey of the market to realize the fact.
Waheed Chaudhry, executive member of Pakistan Sugar Mills Association (PSMA) said, “Government should conduct a survey of the market and realize the sugarcane price paid to the cane farmers. If the cane prices are higher, the sugar prices will be higher.”
Khalid Khokhar, president of Pakistan Kissan Ittehad said, “The farmers are paid Rs 215 to Rs 250per maund against the official price of R 200 per maund.”
Farmers are stating that the millers are not paying them their dues citing several reasons.
The sugar millers are bound to pay farmers the rate fixed by the provincial government as per the rule and the government fixes the price before the beginning of every crushing season.
