LAHORE: The Kisan Board of Pakistan has approached the Lahore High Court seeking a direction to the Punjab government to announce the price of cane and start crushing season in all sugar mills without a delay.

Board president Sardar Zafar Hussain Khan filed a writ petition through Advocate Rana Zubair Afzal alleging that the so-called sugar mills mafia was economically exploiting sugarcane farmers with illegal tactics and enjoying support from the government.

The petitioner submitted that the sugarcane crop had been ripened, but neither the government announced supportive price of sugarcane so far nor the mills started crushing.

He pleaded that the situation was detrimental for both the farmers and the economy of the country.

He pointed out that as per the Sugar Factories Control Act 1950, the crushing season means the period beginning on Oct 1 of a year and ending on next June 30. However, he stated that the month of October had ended but the sugar mills had not so far started crushing.

He argued that the government also failed to announce the support price before the start of the crushing season. He asked the court to order the government to announce the support price of the sugarcane and the mills to start crushing.

In a statement, Zafar said the government first ruined the wheat crop and now seeks to plunder the sugarcane harvest for its own benefit.

He said 21 years ago, the sugarcane sector was made a separate entity to prevent the mills from acting with impunity, yet these mills owe billions to the farmers.

The Kisan Board president urged the government to act responsibly and to stop oppressing the farmers.

Published in Dawn, November 1st, 2024