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SUKKUR, Dec 6: Hundreds of cotton growers held a demonstration on the Salehpat-Rohri link road, near here, on Tuesday in protest against reduction in the support price of cotton.
Led by Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam leaders Maulana Abdul Haq Mahar and Maulana Khuda Bux Chachar, they blocked the Salehpat-Rohri link road for one hour and set ablaze heaps of cotton as a token of protest.
Speaking on the occasion, the leaders alleged that district officers and ginners were exploiting cotton growers, making it difficult for them to earn livelihood for their families.
They said growers’ families were facing starvation due to the situation.
They claimed that earlier, the support price of cotton was Rs1,000 per 40 kilograms but despite a rise in prices of agricultural inputs, the support price had not been increased.
They warned the government that if demands of cotton growers were not accepted, they would stage a sit-in at the Rohri bypass next week and resort to self-immolation.
SSTU: Sukkur Small Traders’ Union president Mohammad Haroon Memon has dissolved the union and announced a schedule for fresh elections.
According to a press statement issued here on Tuesday, he announced this while presiding over a general body meeting of the union.
He said fresh elections would be held on Dec 20 for which a three-member committee had been constituted.
SCCI: The Sukkur Chamber of Commerce and Industry has demanded that the government should immediately withdraw withholding tax on cheques over Rs25,000 to reduce the rising trend of cash transaction in business dealings.
In a press statement issued here on Tuesday, SCCI president Khalid Mehmood Khan said imposition of withholding tax had increased the number of business transactions in cash which was risky keeping in view the law and order situation.
He also demanded that the government should reduce prices of petroleum products as prices in the international market had also declined. He claimed that the government purchased 70 per cent petroleum products from Saudi Arabia, UAE, Iran and other Gulf states on concessional rates.
