Chief Secretary Punjab Azam Suleman Khan has ordered the secretaries of various departments to keep close coordination with the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) so that data about stocks of sugar mills and its lifting could be shared and balance between demand and supply could be maintained.

He was presiding over a meeting here on Wednesday to review prices of sugar, its stocks, supply at utility stores in the province and availability of commodity in view of holy month of Ramazan.

After comparative analysis of sugar prices across the province, Suleman Khan directed the officers concerned to bring down the prices of commodity in the areas where sugar mills are located.

The meeting was told that at present 2,072,678 metric tons of sugar stock is available in the province and it would rise after completion of the crushing season. The chief secretary asked the officers to continue monitoring stocks of sugar mills besides ensuring supply of sold stocks to markets.

The meeting was briefed on payments of sugarcane to growers. The chief secretary was apprised that payments of about Rs 105.94 billion have been made to sugarcane farmers until February 15.

About action against illegal weigh scales, the chief secretary was briefed that inspection of 3,418 Kandas and weighbridges were conducted and 17 complaints regarding less weight and 23 complaints regarding less payment were received. Some 44 cases were registered, 27 persons were arrested and 118 Kandas were sealed. The meeting was told that action was taken against 34 middlemen involved in sugar sale, 31 cases were registered and 26 persons were arrested.

The meeting was attended by senior member Board of Revenue (SMBR), additional chief secretary, administrative secretaries of different departments including food, industries, agriculture, commissioner Lahore Division, chief commissioner income tax, CEO Urban Unit, cane commissioner Punjab, and officers concerned.