MULTAN,April 5th:The Punjab Sugarcane Board has called a meeting on Monday (today) to discuss the issue of non-payment of dues to sugarcane growers by sugar mills.It has learnt that the Punjab government has asked the Cane Commission office to call a meeting in order to evolve a strategy for the next sugarcane crop, the issue of outstanding dues of sugarcane growers, increase in per acreage yield and other issues. The government had invited sugarcane growers, sugar millers, agriculture experts, farmers’ organisations, and concerned government departments to attend the meeting.

It is learnt that delay in payment of sugarcane growers dues would be on top of agenda as payments amounting to over Rs 35 billion payments are pending even though crushing season ended in March.
According to sources, a large number of growers had submitted complaints to the Punjab Sugarcane Commission Office against millers. The Punjab cane commissioner had twice issued notices to all sugar mills of the province to submit the schedule of payments but no miller had submitted the schedule. Sources said the nephew of a top personality is also among millers who had not paid growers dues.