KARACHI, Dec 12: Sugar mills will start crushing in Sindh next week while the issue of subsidy on sugar export and sugarcane prices will be resolved by December 19 or 20.

This was agree at a meeting between Industries and Production Minister Liaquat Ali Khan Jatoi and members of Pakistan Sugar Mills Association, Sindh zone, at PIDC House here on Thursday.

Sugar mills owners briefed the minister about the current crisis facing sugar industry due to unnecessary import of sugar last year despite the presence of surplus stock in the country.

They said traders exported sugar worth $154 million last year when there was no need.

The minister promised sugar mills owners that the issue of subsidy on sugar export and sugarcane pricing will be decided in a meeting to be called on Dec 19 or 20. He asked PSMA to send two to three members for the meeting in Islamabad on Dec 19.

“Before that I will hold meeting with sugarcane growers to also listen their point of view about the indicative price for sugarcane for the current season,” Mr Jatoi added. He said he would try his best to protect the interest of the growers, mills owners and the government.

He pointed out that he had already held couple of meetings with the prime minister to explain him about the need for subsidy on sugar export.

The minister said he would try to convince Prime Minister Zafarullah Jamali, PM’s adviser on finance and economic affairs Shaukat Aziz and commerce minister Humayoon Akhtar Khan on the issue of subsidy.

He was of the view that export of surplus sugar was the only solution to the current crisis in sugar industry.

“I am hopeful that the issue of subsidy would be resolved at Islamabad meeting with the help of active consultation of all stakeholders,” the minister said.

He advised sugar mills to provide details about the default in the payment of sales tax on sugar sale so that he can take up the matter with the member CBR for one time relief.

He urged PSMA members to start crushing in the best national interest as soon as possible so that the growers can harvest sugarcane crop and sow wheat which was already delayed in the province.—APP