Outstanding dues: Sugarcane growers must be paid in 30 days, says CS

LAHORE:

Chief Secretary Khizar Hayat Gondal directed the cane commissioner on Wednesday to ensure that the sugar mills paid all outstanding dues to farmers within 30 days.

He was chairing a meeting held to discuss the demands of Kissan Ittehad at the Civil Secretariat. The chief secretary said that steps were being taken to resolve the problems faced by farmers. “Agriculture sector is the backbone of the country’s economy,” he said. He said that that the government would protect the rights of farmers. “We will also contact the federal government for addressing farmers’ concerns,” he said.

The chief secretary directed the agriculture secretary to prepare proposals to address the challenges faced by farmers in consultation with representatives of the Kissan Ittehad.

Kissan Ittehad leader Khalid Mehmood Khokhar welcomed the Punjab government’s efforts to resolve the problems. The meeting was attended by Law Minister Rana Sanaullah and Finance Minister Ayesha Ghaus Pasha.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 27^th, 2015.