HYDERABAD: Former Sindh chief minister Arbab Ghulam Raheem has said that if the government does not increase prices of sugar cane, growers will protest across the province.

Speaking to journalist after attending a meeting of growers held at the residence of PML-N leader Rahila Gul Magsi here on Sunday, he said the Sindh ruling party had possessed mostly sugar mills, therefore, the government was reluctant to increase cane prices. Sindh United Party leader Syed Zain Shah, Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz senior vice chairman Dr Niaz Kalani and others were present.

The former CM said growers also held a meeting a couple of days ago here and sugar mills started its operation as the matter was in the Supreme Court that would hold a hearing on Jan 20.

“We will also hold our meeting on Jan 20 on this issue and develop a strategy for dealing with the problem,” he said. He said he was also the Sindh CM and knew about the matters. If the government was willing, sugar mills could start functions within two days, said.

If sugar mills had started function in October 2014, growers could cultivate wheat, but cane crop had been standing for 18 months and land was not empty, he said.

He also thanked the MQM for raising voice against this problem in the provincial assembly. He said that on Jan 21, the Sindh Assembly would hold its session.

He said the government had fixed Rs182 per maund price for cane per and issued the notification in this regard, but it was not implemented. He reiterated that mostly sugar mills belonged to the ruling party people who did not want to suffer a loss in profit.

There were several issues being faced by Sindh, but cane price was being focused and all growers were united on the issue, he said.

MQM coordinator Ghazi Salahuddin said that after a prolonged discussion here, the MQM would also raise the issue in the Sindh Assembly on Jan 21. If the government did not change its attitude, a meeting would be called at the residence of Mr Arbab Ghulam Raheem in Karachi and a new strategy would be finalised in this regard.

Sindh Abadgar Board (SAB) president Abdul Majeed Nizamani said farmers were falling prey to problems and the SAB had warned after holding a press conference in the beginning of the crisis that growers would protest.

He said the SAB protested in Nawabshah on Jan 12 by blocking vehicular and train traffic, fulfilling its responsibility. He said that because of a stubborn attitude adopted by both sugar millers and the Sindh government, sugar cane crop faced a colossal loss of Rs10.8 billion this year.

Published in Dawn, January 19th, 2015

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