Row over market arrears lingers on

Published December 12, 2001

TOBA TEK SINGH, Dec 11: Gojra Market Committee has warned the management of Chaudhry Sugar Mills (owned by Nawaz Sharif family) that it will recover 11 times of the actual amount payable by them if they failed to deposit the arrears of Rs20 million.

The mill would be responsible for the damages incurred by the court.

This was stated by the Market Committee administrator Chaudhry Khalid Javed Warriach in a letter to the general manager of the mills.

It stated the mills had been working in the notified area of Gojra Market Committee since 1992-93 under the Punjab agriculture produce markets general rules.

It was legally bound to pay the total market fee within time at the rate of sugar cane which it purchased for crushing besides submitting a business report, it added.

According to the letter, the amount payable by the mill was Rs24,308,856. The management paid Rs3,656,190 while the arrears were Rs20,652,666. It said the amount was much less than the actual fee, contrary to the conditions of the licence.

If the mill’s management failed to comply with the directions of the committee, the amount would be retrieved through an inquiry, it concluded.

The mills management, however, has shrugged off similar notices in the past on the ground that it purchased cane from other zones under an official permission and is not liable to pay dues as claimed by the market committee.

Opinion

Editorial

A difficult story
Updated 12 Jun, 2026

A difficult story

Unless productivity becomes the dominant target of economic policy, Pakistan will continue to oscillate between crises and fragile recovery.
Rough waters
12 Jun, 2026

Rough waters

AMONGST the key potential triggers for fresh conflict in South Asia is water. The Indian state is behaving in an...
Politicised football
12 Jun, 2026

Politicised football

ALMOST three-and-half years since Lionel Messi led Argentina to FIFA World Cup glory, the latest edition of...
GB polls’ aftermath
Updated 11 Jun, 2026

GB polls’ aftermath

The new administration must address the region’s issues proactively.
Peace in retreat
11 Jun, 2026

Peace in retreat

THE ceasefire announced in April was supposed to create space for negotiations. Instead, it has been repeatedly...
A few good men
11 Jun, 2026

A few good men

IT was a brave move, no doubt. This Tuesday, in the land of the Afghan Taliban, a few good men decided to take a...