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HYDERABAD, Oct 4: In accordance with a directive issued by the chief minister at a meeting on Sept 28 in Karachi, the Sindh cane commissioner on Monday forwarded a list of middlemen to the authorities for checking their role during the sugarcane season.
Commissioner Nazar Mohammad Baloch sent the list to DCOs, DPOs, Sindh agriculture secretary, private secretary to the agriculture minister and managing directors of sugar mills in the province for necessary action in the matter.
Chief Minister Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim had issued the directive following complaints of farmers that mill managements did not procure sugarcane directly from them and they suffered huge losses every season by selling their produce through middlemen. The farmers had demanded an end to the role of middlemen.
The cane commissioner directed the DPOs and the DCOs to prevent the sale and purchase of sugarcane through middlemen and establish a sugarcane procuring centre. He maintained that the role of middlemen was illegal under sections 15 and 21 of the Sugar Factories Control Act, punishable with one year imprisonment, a fine of Rs100,000, or both.
Mr Baloch said the action had been taken to protect monetary interests of farmers and mill owners. He added that notices under sections 15 and 21 of the SGFA had been issued to middlemen.
PTCL EMPLYEES' PROTEST: A token strike was observed at offices of the Southern Telecommunication Region-I in response to a call by the Pakistan Telecommunication Employees Union (CBA) against non-acceptance of a charter of demands submitted by the union to the PTCL management.
Work remained suspended for two hours at the offices as PTCL employees wore black arm bands and hoisted black flags atop company buildings. The union has been protesting against the PTCL management for not accepting its charter of demands.
A press release of the union said the strike was observed right from Mithi to Gadap. Union's regional president Shafi Mallah, general secretary Shakeel Ahmad, vice chairman Ghaffar Shaikh and others said a complete strike would be observed after Oct 14 if the management continued to show obduracy. They warned the management against keeping workers on false hopes.
Our Mirpurkhas correspondent adds: A strike was also observed at PTCL offices in the Mirpurkhas district. Employees wore black arm bands between 10am and 12noon.
A press release of the employees' union said the strike was observed in Mirwah, Digri, Tando Jan Muhammad, Jhuddo, Kot Ghulam Muhammad, Umerkot, Kunri, Pithoro, Mithi, Islamkot, Diplo, Chhachhro and other towns.
A meeting of the PTEU, Mirpurkhas division, was also held, which was presided over by regional vice-president Mohammad Yousuf Chandio. Speaking on the occasion, Syed Jan Mohammad, union's divisional chairman Mohammad Saleh, Mohammad Hassan Baloch, Manthar Ali Maher and Mohammad Riaz said they would continue their protest till acceptance of their demands.
