Court warns strict action if directives not complied with by 14th
ISLAMABAD:
The Supreme Court on Wednesday ordered the owners of sugar mills to pay their dues to sugarcane farmers by June 14.
A three-member bench of the apex court headed by Justice Azmat Saeed also warned the sugar mill owners that they would face strict action if they failed to hand over their cheques to the sugarcane commissioner. The commissioner will then hand over the cheques to the deputy commissioners of the districts concerned.
The Punjab advocate general informed the court that the Brothers Sugar Mills had to pay Rs678.9 million the growers.
The Darya Khan Sugar Mills and the Pattoki Sugar Mills have to clear Rs57 million and Rs591 million respectively.
Justice Saeed warned the owners of the sugar mills that the court would take stern action against them if they failed to fulfill their commitment.
The hearing of the case was later adjourned for an indefinite period.
Earlier this year, Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar had observed that the sugar mills mafia had ruled the province for decades and sugarcane farmers were not paid their dues for many years.
In December, he directed all senior officers, including cabinet members to protect the rights of sugarcane growers. Provincial minister Colonel (retd) Hashim Dogar said a crackdown was being carried out against middlemen across the province and cases were being registered against the exploiters of sugarcane growers.
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