Bitter sugar politics

Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf leader Jahangir Khan Tareen has again hit the headlines, but this time the reason behind his prominent appearance in media has got more to do with agriculture economics than politics: the country's largest taxpayer has made a solemn pledge that he, along with four other millers, would purchase the entire cane crop at Rs 180 per 40kg as fixed by the Punjab government. No doubt, it is a big step forward by millers to end the menacing sugar producers-cane growers standoff that has begun to create fears of sugar shortages in the country. His pledge before the Supreme Court has taken place amid growing protests by cane growers. Showing willingness to ease the difficulty of sugarcane growers of southern Punjab in response to Supreme Court's directives, Tareen, according to a Business Recorder news item, has submitted an undertaking to the apex court that he and other four owners of the mills - Hamza Sugar Mill, Ashraf Sugar Mill, RYK Sugar Mill and Indus Sugar Mill - are ready to purchase the crop. In September 2017, the Lahore High Court had declared relocation of the Sharif family's mills -Chaudhry Sugar Mills, Ittefaq Sugar Mills, and Haseeb Waqas Sugar Mills - from central Punjab to southern Punjab illegal. Challenging the High Court's verdict before the Supreme Court, Pakistan Kissan Ittehad and two other petitioners urged the court to set aside the judgment in the financial interest of cane growers of the vicinity. Responding to the petitioners' plea, the apex court had asked the counsel for Tareen to come up with a feasible proposal. On Thursday, appearing in person, on the order of the honourable court, before a three-member bench led by Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar, JDW's owner, Jehangir Khan Tareen, filed an undertaking to buy cane crop from growers of the locality at the rate fixed by the Punjab government.
During the course of proceedings, Ahsan Bhoon, the counsel for the petitioners, asked how it would be possible for JDW and four other mills to purchase sugarcane crop from all farmers. However, Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar assured the farmers' counsel that court would monitor and oversee the process, saying if there is any irregularity in procurement of crop then he will pass an appropriate order after taking up the matter in chamber. Addressing Tareen, Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar said that being an elder of the locality, he should ensure that no farmer faces any loss.
It is interesting to note that the entire landscape of sugar mills is strongly characterized by active participation of noted politicians in this business. In Sindh, for example, most of the mills are said to be owned by one single political family. The Sindh government, therefore, is perceived to be less charitable in response to the plight of cane growers. According to Sindh Home Minister Anwar Sial, the PPP's opponents are behind the growers' protest to create a law and order situation in the country. His argument through which he seeks to absolve the Sindh government from creating the sugar crisis on grounds that the federal government had failed to give permission for export of surplus sugar six months prior to start of sugarcane season has lost legitimacy after readiness of millers from southern Punjab to purchase cane at almost similar price.
A question why announcement of sugarcane support price is always delayed forcing farmers to sell their produce on throwaway prices always begs an answer. Pakistan Economic Watch (PEW) seems to have a clear and elaborate answer to this question as it has recently pointed out that "influential sugar mills mafia" has emerged as a great threat to millions of cane growers. According to it, the mafia continues to exploit growers across the country. The decision of millers from southern Punjab has landed other sugar millers in an awkward position as they are left with no choice but to cut deals with growers without any further loss of time. No doubt, Tareen and four other millers of southern Punjab have set the ball rolling with their undertaking before the apex court. The growers, on the other hand, must not lose sight of the fact that before adjourning the hearing of case on Thursday, Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar remarked that court had provided remedy to growers by protecting their rights "so they should avoid raising objections and becoming mouthpiece of someone else".