Govt protecting sugarcane farmers' rights

LAHORE: Chief Minister Punjab Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif Tuesday said the provincial government had ensured protection of sugarcane farmers and no one would be allowed to usurp their rights.

He stated this while presiding over a meeting held to review progress on government steps aimed at solving problems of sugarcane farmers.

The chief minister said farmers were his brethren; therefore, reward of their hard work would be provided to them at all costs and every step was being taken to protect their interests.

He ordered for continuing indiscriminate action against the mills deducting weight and added that any complaint in this regard would not be tolerated. "Indiscriminate action should also continue against the illegal weighbridges and relevant provincial ministers and secretaries should remain in the field all the time to protect stakes of farmers as the situation has improved because of field visits," he said.

Provincial Finance Minister Ayesha Ghaus Pasha, spokesman Punjab government Malik Muhammad Ahmed Khan, Chief Secretary, ACS (Home), Chairman P&D and others attended the meeting while Provincial Minister Bilal Yasin, Sheikh Allauddin, Naeem Akhtar Bhabha, Iqbal Channar, Farrukh Javed and other officials attended the meeting through video link from their respective districts.