Sindh govt fixes sugar cane price, crushing season to begin today

Much to the relief of Sindh’s sugar cane growers, the provincial government after a month-long delay on Wednesday fixed the official procurement price of the tropical grass and announced commencing its crushing season from Thursday (today).

The price at which the plant will be made available to buyers has been fixed at Rs182 per 40 kg (or maund). The decisions were taken by the provincial Sugar Cane Control Board in a meeting presided over by Sindh Agriculture and Home Minister Sohail Anwar Siyal. Addressing media personnel on the occasion, Siyal said the fresh procurement rates have been fixed keeping in view the legitimate interests of both the growers as well as sugar mill owners in Sindh.

‘Centre to also be blamed’

Speaking of the delay, the agriculture minister claimed that the federal government was also to be blamed as it failed to take a timely decision over whether to export or not to the sugar stocks available in the country.

The people of Sindh had to suffer a lot owing to the federal government’s indecision over the matter, Siyal stated. Had it not been for the Centre, Sindh would have fixed the official sugar cane price a long time ago, added the minister.

He said the current decision much like the previous decisions taken by the Sindh government has been taken in accordance with the vision of Pakistan Peoples Party chairman which aims to resolve public issues in light of the common people’s aspirations.

Karachi law and order

Responding to a question, Siyal who is also Sindh’s home minister said the federal government had no participation in the ongoing Karachi operation as Islamabad did not even contribute a single penny for expenses incurred in conducting the operation.

He said the federal government had in the past promised that it would bear 50 per cent of the expenses for conducting the Karachi operation, but the commitment is yet to be fulfilled.