KARACHI, Oct 22: The sugarcane crushing season in the province will commence from Nov 1 and the support price of the sugar cane has been fixed at Rs43 per maund.

This was decided at a meeting of the Sindh cabinet here on Wednesday with Chief Minister Sardar Ali Mohammad Mahar in the chair.

The adviser to the chief minister on information, Salahuddin Haider, briefed newsmen about the proceedings of the cabinet.

Mr Haider said the Sindh cabinet decided that mills would procure sugar cane through the Trading Corporation of Pakistan (TCP).

The Sindh chief secretary briefing the cabinet said the Sindh food department had released 210,000 tons of wheat and hoped prices of flour would fall further as a result.

He said the price of Baisan had been fixed at Rs22.5 per killogram as the commodity was in great demand during the holy month of Ramazan.

He said Nazims and DCOs were holding negotiations with meat traders to reduce the prices of this essential item during the holy month.

It was stated that the chief justice had delegated judicial powers to DDOs for arrest and punishment of those resorting to profiteering.

It was decided that emergency centres would be activated for electricity and water supply.

The provincial police officer also briefed the cabinet on law and order situation.—APP