LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has said that problems of the farmers were solved on a priority basis in the past and their issues will be treated on a priority basis in future also.
The sugar mills will be bound to purchase sugarcane from the farmers at the rate of Rs 180 per maund and legal action will be initiated against any sugar mill buying it on less price. He assured that the provision of payment of Rs 180 per maund sugarcane price to the farmers will be ensured at every cost as he has always safeguarded their interests.
The chief minister said this while talking to a delegation of Pakistan Kissan Ittehad (PKI) here today. During the meeting, different matters including solutions to different problems faced by the farmers, price of the sugarcane and the start of the crushing season came under discussion.
The Chief Minister made it clear that the interests of the farmers are very dear to him and nobody will be allowed to play with their interests. He said that PML-N is the party of the farmers.
He pointed out that the government of the PML-N has solved many problems of the farmers’ community on a priority basis. It has given relief to the farmers through the Kissan Package worth billions of rupees, while a subsidy to the tune of billions of rupees has also been spent on fertilizers.
He directed that the secretary industry and cane commissioner hold a meeting of Sugar Mills Association (SMA) for the start of crushing season at the earliest. He also warned that legal action will be initiated against the sugar mills failing to start the crushing season well in time and added that reimbursement of the pending dues of farmers from the mills will also be ensured.
He divulged that he registered FIRs against his relatives who failed to pay timely dues to the farmers. The CM said that a meeting of the farmers will be scheduled with the federal minister Awais Leghari to solve the issue of arrears of electricity.
Provincial Law Minister Rana Sanaullah, secretaries of agriculture and industry departments, commissioner Lahore division, CCPO Lahore and cane commissioner Punjab were present on the occasion.