LAHORE: Eight sugar mills in Punjab have been issued show-cause notices for not starting crushing on the date specified under the law by the cane commissioner.

Punjab Cane Commissioner Abdul Rauf issued show-cause notices to the occupiers/owners of Shakarganj-I and II (Jhang), Jauharabad (Khushab), Adam (Bahawalnagar), Channar (Faisalabad), GB (Sialkot), Safina (Chiniot), and Abdullah-I (Okara) sugar mills on Thursday under section 21 of the Punjab Sugar Mills Control Act, 1950.

The notice reads that under section 8 of the act the occupier of a sugar mills shall start crushing of cane not later than a date specified by the government which shall not be later than Nov 30.

This season, the cane commissioner had directed the sugar mills to start crushing by Nov 25, but the above mentioned eight mills violated the direction and have not yet started crushing.

The officer has warned the mill managements that their act tantamount to defiance of the law that may lead to imposition of fine and penalties as envisaged under section 21 of the 1950 Act.

Under section 21, a violator may be imposed up to three-year jail term or a fine up to Rs5 million per day for the violation or both.

The cane commissioner has sought a reply from the millers within three days of the issuance of the notice and directed them to appear before him on Monday or face ex-parte action as per law.

Published in Dawn, December 2nd, 2023