LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday said that problems of the farmers were solved on priority basis in the past and their issues would also be treated on priority basis in future.
The sugar mills would be bound to purchase sugarcane from farmers at the rate of Rs 180 per maund and legal action would be initiated against the sugar mills buying sugarcane on less price.
He assured that provision of payment of Rs 180 per maund sugarcane price to the farmers would be ensured at every cost as farmers were his brothers and he had always safeguarded their interests.
The Chief Minister said this while talking to a delegation of Pakistan Kissan Ittehad, here.
During the meeting, different matters including solution of different problems of farmers, price of sugarcane and start of crushing season came under discussion.
The Chief Minister made it clear that the interests of the farmers were very dear to him and nobody would be allowed to play with their interests. He said the PML-N was the party of the farmers, while the government had adopted unprecedented steps for the welfare of farmers. He pointed out that the government of the PML-N had solved the problems of the farmers' community on priority basis.
The government had given relief to farmers through the historic Kissan Package worth billions of rupees, while a subsidy to the tune of billions of rupees had also been given on fertilizers.
He directed that the Secretary Industry and Cane Commissioner should hold the meeting of Sugar Mills Association for the start of crushing season at the earliest.
He warned that legal action would be initiated against the sugar mills failing to start the crushing season well in time and added that reimbursement of the spending dues of the farmers from mills would also be ensured. He divulged that he even got registered FIRs against his relatives who failed to pay timely dues to the farmers.
The Chief Minister directed to make proper arrangements for the holding of Kissan Mela. He said that a meeting of the farmers would be scheduled with Federal Minister Awais Leghari to solve the issue of arrears of electricity.
Provincial Minister for Law Rana Sanaullah, Secretaries of Agriculture and Industry departments, Commissioner Lahore Division, CCPO Lahore and Cane Commissioner Punjab were present on the occasion.
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