Shifting of sugar mills: LHC directs Punjab cane commissioner to ensure farmers' payments

The Lahore High Court here Friday directed Punjab cane commissioner to ensure release of farmers' payments pending with sugar mills in the province and submit his report by February 27. The court hearing the case regarding shifting of Chaudhry Sugar Mills Rahim Yar Khan, Ittefaq Sugar Mills Bahawalpur, and Haseeb Waqas Sugar Mills Muzaffargarh.
Earlier, Punjab government's counsel Khwaja Harris in his arguments stated that under the law a sugar mills was required to seek permission from the department concerned for its relocation. However, he said there was no mala fide in relocation policy introduced by the government for sugar mills in 2015.
One behalf of Haseeb Waqas and Chaudhry Sugar Mills, Ali Sibtain Fazli advocate argued that the law did not require permission for the shifting but for establishing new sugar mills. He said when the sugar mills in question were shifted the law had no condition of approval. The court adjourned the proceedings for further hearing when the counsel was still submitting his arguments.