To fulfil the pledges made by Pakistan Sugar Mills Association (PSMA) with the Minfal to start cane crushing operation in the first week of November, mills in Sindh have ignited their boilers, while some mills have started receiving cane.
Secretary, Food, Agriculture and Livestock, Ismail Qureshi, told Business Recorder on Monday after a meeting of Secretaries Committee on commodities and cane crushing that sugar mills in Punjab have started their boilers, even before scheduled time.
Twenty-seven sugar mills have so far started their boilers, while two of them have also started receiving cane. Similarly, two sugar mills in Punjab have also started their boilers, he said. However, crushing will only start when the growers would start bringing cane at mills' gate for sale, he added. "It is a good sign that millers are honouring what they pledged with the ministry", Minfal Secretary said.
He said that provincial cane commissioners could take remedial measures under the Sugar Control Act. About sugar prices, Qureshi said that it was only because of short supply and Eid holidays. Now the prices are showing downward trends, as extra supply of the commodity was injected in the market as well.
About secretaries committee on commodities, he said that it exclusively discussed the availability of pulses, onion, potato and other eatables, and expressed satisfaction over the availability of the said commodities. The meeting was informed that the recent shoot up in some kitchen items was only because of Eid holidays and there was no shortage of the commodities. Secretary Commerce Asif Ali Shah, Secretary Industries Kamran Rasool and representative from Finance Ministry attended the meeting.