The Monopoly Control Authority (MCA) has directed Sindh sugar mills to submit a proforma giving details of those dealers, whose stocks were in their godowns till March 31.
The details sought by the authority included the names, photocopies of CNIC, NTN, telephone numbers, addresses, quantity and price at which the sugar was sold to the dealers.
Syed Bilal Ahmed along with two other MCA members Raja Raza Arshad and Abdul Ghaffar heard the petition against sugar mills for violation of restrictive trade practices here at the authority office on Thursday.
The millers submitted before the authority that they had sold the stocks to the dealers because they needed cash for payment to the growers, but had no control over lifting of sugar from the godowns.
However, they continued pressing dealers for lifting the sold stocks within two weeks time. The millers said, "They could not force because it would damage their reputation in the market."
"We are bound to facilitate the dealers and, therefore, keep the sold sugar at our godowns to keep our clients intact," another respondent said before the authority.
Most of the sugar mills held Sindh Food Department responsible for less sale against production in February, when the authority repeatedly asked. They said that Sindh Food Department had issued notification of their registration, which created fear among the dealers.
One of the respondents informed the authority that the quantity of sugar released was as per the need of the market.
To a question, another miller said that the crisis could be handled if the sale of imported sugar was properly managed. He warned that it would be worst for the country if hoarded.
Assessment of cane production and zoning could avert the crisis in future, Mirpurkhas Sugar Mills chief financial officer said.
He also said that undertakings, which sold 90 percent of their stocks, were actually in financial crisis. Those who did not release their stocks were financially sound, he added.
Rais-ul-Hasssan of Habib Sugar Mills said that incentives to the growers would also help in averting such crisis in future.
The Central Board of Revenue (CBR) is also monitoring the sale and production of the sugar mills and keeping a vigilant eye on the situation, Arif of Faran Sugar Mills said. Bannu Sugar Mills replied to the authority that they could not release the stock, as it was pledged with the banks.
The representatives of Sindh Sugar Mills who argued before the authority include: Al-Abbas Sugar Mills Ltd, Army Welfare Sugar Mills Ltd, Bawani Sugar Mills Ltd, Dewan Sugar Mills Ltd, Faran Sugar Mills Ltd, Habib Sugar Mills Ltd, Matiari Sugar Mills Ltd, Mehran Sugar Mills Ltd and Mirpurkhas Sugar Mills Ltd.
The authority took ex partex decision against six sugar mills from Sindh for not appearing before it. These include Al-Noor Sugar Mills Ltd, Ansari Sugar Mills Ltd, Larr Sugar Mills Ltd, Najma Sugar Mills Ltd, Shahmurad Sugar Mills Ltd and Sindh Abadgar Sugar Mills Ltd.
The authority would hold hearing against Mecca Sugar Mills and Tandliawala-II Sugar Mills (Miran) on Friday.
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