LAHORE: The Punjab government has constituted “Sugarcane Control Board” for the crushing season 2021-22 to work as monitoring body to save the cane growers from any exploitation, fixing of the sugarcane minimum purchase price and avoid any irregularity during the season.

Secretary Food Punjab Ali Sarfraz Hussain issued a notification No. SO (F-III) 13-7/2021 by exercising his powers conferred under section 3&4 of the Punjab Sugar Factories Control Act, 1950 read with the Rule 3 of the Sugar Factories Control Rules 1950. Cane Commissioner Punjab Muhammad Zaman Wattoo will act as its chairman while DG Agriculture (Extension) Dr Anjum Buttar and Director Industries & Mineral Development department will be the members.

The Board will also have one representative each from all the 40 sugar mills working in the province besides a growers’ representative from the area of each mill.

The Board will have its maiden meeting on Saturday (tomorrow), in which it is expected that the stakeholders will give their input for fixing the minimum purchase price (support price) for the crushing season 2021-22. It is being hinted that the minimum support price will be proposed at Rs 220-225 per maund for the current season which will be sent to the cabinet for final approval.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2021