Voicing concern over the closure of sugar mills in Sindh, members of the National Assembly have asked the Sindh government to take immediate notice of the situation because farmers are in a quandary following the millers' refusal to purchase sugar cane at the notified rate of Rs182.
MNA Nawab Yousuf Talpar and president of Sindh Chamber of Agriculture Dr Naveed Qamar on Wednesday told newsmen at a press conference held here at Karachi Press Club that owners of Sindh sugar mills were openly defying Sindh High Court's orders by refusing to purchase sugar cane at notified rate of Rs182 per 40 kilogram.
"Sindh government should intervene and resolve the issue immediately, otherwise farmers will face serious financial losses," Talpur added.
Elaborating, he said that although SHC had granted them a stay till January 6 so as to allow them the right to appeal, some of the sugar mills have stopped purchasing sugar cane from the farmers, thereby pushing the situation towards a law and order.
"Owners of sugar mills are guilty of contempt of court by circumventing the orders of the court," he said, adding that the court has allowed them to follow due process of law.
Talking of the unrest prevailing among the farmers community, he said that the farmers have a right to ask to whether the Sindh sugar mills were farmers- friendly or otherwise.
Pointing out that 93 per cent farmers in Sindh are small land-holders, he said that under the Sugar Cane Act of 1950, sugar mills are supposed to make payment within seven days. Parliamentarians also advised the sugar mills to purchase sugar cane at the officially fixed rate of Rs182 so that poor farmers could be saved from incurring financial losses.
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