The speakers at a seminar on Friday feared levying of 15 percent Regulatory Duty on Gur and re-enforcement of Gur Control Act 1948 would not only deepen crisis but also encourage the sugar mafia.
Both these motives, initiated by Central Board of Revenue (CBR) on the behest of millers, would not only curb gur-making but also give a free hand to the millers, they alleged while speaking at a seminar titled "Gur Makers of Pakistan".
They demanded of the government to announce incentives for the gur-makers and declare it a cottage industry instead of making small enterprises the hostage to big corporations. The gur makers waned that if RD was levied, they would not only stage protest in front of the Parliament but in every nook and corner of the country.
Dr Khyial Mohammad Khyial of Anjuman Kashatkaran-e-Sarhad said that cane growers were already paying a number of taxes to the federal and provincial governments, therefore, levying RD is unjustified, he argued.
"It is testing time for the government to abolish Gur Control Order 1948 and announce incentives for the small farmers", said Chaudhry Rashid of The Network for Consumer Protection. The government instead of encouraging export of gur has knelt down before the sugar mafia for levying of RD on gur, he lamented.
Jan Nisar Khan Khalil, Co-ordinator Pakistan Kissan Ittehad (PKI), NWFP Zone, and President Anjuman-e-Kashtakaran -e-Sarhad strongly criticised the government for not consulting the stakeholders, more particularly in this case, the small and poor farmers.
The government's tall claims had no real meaning for the small farmers because it never tried to translate its words into deeds, said Niaz Kathia of the Village Friends Organisation (VFO).
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