Govt yet to answer PHC’s notices

A two-member bench of the Peshawar High Court, comprising Justice Syed Arshad Ali and Justice Muhammad Aijaz Khan Sabi, sought a response from the provincial government and the sugar commissioner by August 15 on a petition challenging the ban on sugar exports.

The bench heard the petition filed by Dera Ismail Khan's Al-Moiz Sugar Mill through Advocate Ishaq Ali Qazi. The lawyer told the court that the petitioner is the largest sugar producer in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, employing thousands of people.

Advocate Qazi informed the court that the provincial government's ban on sugar exports is causing losses to sugarcane farmers and may lead to a significant loss of foreign exchange. He pointed out that the Peshawar High Court had already issued notices in this regard, and therefore, the federal and provincial governments should be asked to respond and explain why they did not comply with the federal government's orders and allow sugar exports.

He warned that if sugar exports are not allowed, it will not only affect the mills, but also the country's foreign exchange.