LAHORE: The Punjab Cane Growers Association has voiced strong concerns over what they described as increasing harassment by motorway police and district traffic police at sugar mill entry points.
Punjab Cane Growers Association Chairman Rana Iftikhar Muhammad while speaking at a meeting of his organization the other day claimed that farmers have complained that after already suffering from the delayed commencement of the crushing season, they are now facing a new challenge: police allegedly stopping tractor-trolleys loaded with cane outside mills, impounding empty trolleys, and subjecting drivers to heavy fines and FIRs.
The growers at the meeting said that police pressure tactics were causing significant delays, forcing cane to stand for extended periods outside mills, during which it dries up and loses recovery value, a loss for both farmers and mills. The spokesperson of the organization while releasing meeting details to media said a sugar mill in district Khushab has remained closed for the past five days due to the disruption while similar complaints have been reported from mills in other districts as well.
The farmers demanded that the Punjab government and the inspector general of motorway police take immediate notice of “police high-handedness” and ensure relief to growers. They warned that failure to address the issue would compel them to block major roads and launch severe protests across the province.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2025