LAHORE: The Pakistan Sugar Mills Association (PSMA) Punjab Zone has asked the Cane Commissioner Punjab to identify unauthorised sugarcane purchasing agents/middlemen and take effective measures to stop this illegal practice which is creating shortage of sugarcane for the mills which may lead to higher price of the commodity.

In a letter to the Cane Commissioner Punjab, the PSMA asked pleaded for saving the growers and sugar mills both from suffering colossal losses at the hands of middlemen.

“We have already indicated that higher prices of sugarcane by any reason result in high price of sugar.”

The PSMA Punjab Zone has been pointing out time and again unauthorised purchasing of sugarcane from different areas of Punjab by unauthorised purchase agents and middlemen.

“We have also been requesting the higher authorities in Punjab government, including this office to take action against illegal purchase by unauthorised agents/ middlemen,” the letter added.

It said that the matter was taken up at different forums time to time and every time action was promised, but a little attention has been given to this important aspect. The chairman PSMA called on Secretary Food, Government of Punjab, twice in the recent past and discussed this serious issue personally. All these efforts indicate that sugar mills have always made their best effort to eliminate unauthorised purchasing agents/middlemen, the letter alleged.

Referring to a letter from the Cane Commissioner, the PSMA clarified that Punjab sugar mills do not purchase sugarcane from the unauthorised purchasing agents/middlemen. Sugarcane purchased by unauthorised purchasing agents/middlemen is being transported to other provinces and being heavily utilized.

This has created a shortage of sugarcane for Punjab mills, thus giving rise to sugarcane prices.

The PSMA urged the Cane Commissioner Punjab to identify unauthorised purchasing agents/ middlemen and take effective measures in order to stop this illegal practice.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2021