LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has said that the interests of the farmers will not be compromised at any cost and he shall go to every extent to protect the stakes of the sugarcane farmers.
While directing to initiate an indiscriminate action against sugar mills making a deduction in the weight of sugarcane, he made it clear that action will be taken against sugar mills owners found involved in the underweight procurement of sugarcane from farmers. He added that underweight purchase of sugarcane is a cruelty which will never be allowed.
He issued these directions while presiding over a video-conference from Model Town, here today. During the meeting, a report was presented by the committee constituted to ponder over the problems of the sugarcane farmers.
The CM directed that FIRs be registered against sugar mills making a deduction in the weight of the sugarcane. He said that elements that have set up illegal weighbridges should be arrested.
Provincial Finance Minister Dr Ayesha Ghaus Pasha, chief secretary, Planning and Development chairman, secretary to the CM, finance secretary and other concerned officials attended the video link meeting while Provincial Ministers Sheikh Allauddin, Bilal Yasin, Advisor Umer Saif, additional home chief secretary, police inspector general, concerned secretaries, representatives of farmers Khalid Khokhar, Sarfraz Khan, Sugar Mills Association President Javed Kayani and Punjab Zone President Ahsan Latif participated through the video link from the Civil Secretariat.
The agriculture provincial minister participated from Khanewal and secretary food attended it from Jhang through the video link.