Sugar mills to pay Rs 7bn to growers

LAHORE: Despite serious efforts by the Punjab government sugar mills have yet to pay Rs 7 billion

out of a total of Rs 105 billion to sugarcane growers, Secretary Food Punjab, Sqn Ldr (R) Muhammad Irfan Elahi told APP here on Friday that all the 45 sugar mills during the last crushing season purchased sugarcane worth Rs 105 billion of which Rs 98 billion have been paid to the growers.

He said that by the end of crushing season the sugar mills had paid only Rs 92 billion to the growers but on the strict warning of the Chief Minister Punjab,the mills paid another Rs 6 billion to the growers making the net total figure of Rs 98 billion

"We are registering FIRs against the defaulting mill owners for inordinate delay in payment and issued 239 show-cause notices to clear their dues forthwith otherwise strict action will be taken against them without any discrimination," he added.

The secretary said that all DCOs empowered as Additional Cane Commissioners in their respective districts have also been directed to expedite the payment to poor farmers at their doorsteps.