LAHORE: The Punjab cane commissioner has served legal notices on 27 sugar mills in the province for not paying over Rs29 billion in dues to sugarcane growers.

A spokesman for Commissioner Umar Sher Chathha said here on Friday that legal notices have been issued to 27 sugar mills for non-payment of sugarcane farmers. These include Ashraf, Adam, Abdullah, Al-Mueez, Al-Arabiya, Darya Khan, Ittehad, Fatima, Ganj Bakhsh, Hunza-II, Hamza, Indus, Joharabad, Jamal Din Wali-I, Kashmir, Noon, Popular, Rasool Nawaz, Ramazan, Rahim Yar Khan, Sheikhoo, Seven Star, Shah Taj, Shikarganj-I, Shika­rganj-I, Shika­rganj-II, Tariq Corporation, and Tandlianwala-II sugar mills

The spokesperson said that the delayed amount with these sugar mills is more than Rs29.3 billion, and they have been instructed to make payments within seven days after receipt of the notice as per the law or face legal action under the Punjab Sugar Factories Control (Amendment) Act of 1950.

Clause 13(2) of the Act requires that sugar mills transfer the amount of the cane purchased into the bank account of the growers concerned within 15 days of the purchase.

If the defaulting sugar mills do not pay the farmers within the next seven days, action will be taken by the cane commissioner against them as per the Punjab Sugar Factories Control Amen­dment Act of 1950.

Published in Dawn, March 11th, 2023

Opinion

Editorial

Kurram atrocity
Updated 22 Nov, 2024

Kurram atrocity

It would be a monumental mistake for the state to continue ignoring the violence in Kurram.
Persistent grip
22 Nov, 2024

Persistent grip

PAKISTAN has now registered 50 polio cases this year. We all saw it coming and yet there was nothing we could do to...
Green transport
22 Nov, 2024

Green transport

THE government has taken a commendable step by announcing a New Energy Vehicle policy aiming to ensure that by 2030,...
Military option
Updated 21 Nov, 2024

Military option

While restoring peace is essential, addressing Balochistan’s socioeconomic deprivation is equally important.
HIV/AIDS disaster
21 Nov, 2024

HIV/AIDS disaster

A TORTUROUS sense of déjà vu is attached to the latest health fiasco at Multan’s Nishtar Hospital. The largest...
Dubious pardon
21 Nov, 2024

Dubious pardon

IT is disturbing how a crime as grave as custodial death has culminated in an out-of-court ‘settlement’. The...