NAWABSHAH, Jan 22: Following big demonstrations staged by growers on Tuesday, the management of the Habib Sugar Mills, Nawabshah, announced to pay Rs40 per 40 kgs of sugarcane to growers.

Led by MNA Ghulam Mustafa Shah, MPA Ghulam Qadir Chandio, MPA Ahmad Ali Jalbani, Sindh Abadgar Board (SAB) district president Syed Zain Shah, SAB general secretary Syed Zahid Hussain Shah, Sakrand Taluka Nazim Javed Ahmad Rahu, Daulatpur Taluka Nazim Jam Iftikhar Unnar and others, hundreds of growers reached the Habib Sugar Mills gate in different rallies and blocked the main railway track opposite the gate for more than three hours.

Heavy contingents of police were deployed and DPO Dr Sarwar Jamali was also present to avert any untoward incident.

Speaking on the occasion, the leaders of the growers deplored sugar mills were not ready to pay Rs43 per 40 kgs of sugarcane to growers and had not paid the quality premium.

They said sugarcane growers of the province were united and would not compromise on the price.

District Nazim Faryal Talpur and DCO Abdul Qadir Mangi reached the spot and requested the growers to end their protest.

The leaders of the growers demanded of the district Nazim to ensure a meeting of mill owners and growers.

After talking to the mill owners, the district Nazim and the DCO told the growers the mill owners were ready to hold talks with them.

The DCO, after talking to high-ups, announced that talks between sugar mill owners and growers would be held in Karachi on Thursday.

The meeting would be presided over by Sindh chief secretary K. B. Rind.

Later, the district Nazim and the DCO held a meeting with the chief executive of the Habib Sugar Mills, Syed Raisul Hassan, and the general manager, Mohammad Yousuf.

The district Nazim and the mill officials after the meeting announced that the mill would pay Rs40 per 40kgs of sugarcane.

The district Nazim told Dawn her government was making efforts to solve the problem of the growers.

She said she would also attend the Karachi meeting.