Finance Minister Senator Ishaq Dar has assured a delegation of Pakistan Sugar Mills Association that an appropriate decision regarding permission to the sugar mills for export of surplus sugar as well as other issues would be taken by the ECC but he called upon the association to ensure that all dues were paid to the farmers and crushing process was initiated on time.
The finance minister was talking to a delegation of Pakistan Sugar Mills Association which called on him Saturday and conveyed their grievances for their solution.
The delegation said that due to surplus stock of sugar to the tune of 1.2 million tons, they had no option but to export sugar to avoid incurring losses and ensure payments to the sugarcane growers. They further said that regulatory duty on import of sugar should also be levied to help the domestic industry. The delegation also drew finance minister’s attention to the clearance of TDAP-related cases.
At this juncture, Minister for Food Security Sikandar Hayat Bosan pointed out that while the issues raised by the delegation deserved consideration, the sugar mills also had some unfulfilled obligations. Some of them had not been making payments to sugarcane farmers for as long as four years and the farmers were now hard pressed. He also pointed out that the sugar mills had been extending the date for initiation of sugarcane crushing process every year which should be avoided in future and that crushing must start maximum by 15th November as it would help timely sowing of the wheat.
The finance minister said the issues facing the sugar industry would be given due consideration but it should also keep in mind the welfare of the farmers and the consumers. He entrusted the ministry of commerce with the task to prepare and submit a summary to the ECC encompassing genuine demands of the Pakistan Sugar Mills Association. He advised members of the delegation to take due cognizance of the comments made by Minister for National Food Security & Research Sikandar Hayat Bosan.
Commerce Minister Kurram Dastgir Khan, Minster for National Food Security, Sikandar Hayat Bosan and other senior officials attended the meeting.
