criticizes the policy of deregulation; says that a completely free market does not exist anywhere
ISLAMABAD:
A parliamentary panel has expressed serious concern over low sugarcane prices despite high profits from sugar mills.
The National Assembly’s Standing Committee on National Food Security met on Wednesday to review agricultural production.
The chairman of the committee, Syed Hussain Tariq, said that the month of December had arrived, yet 12 percent of sugarcane crushing had been completed. He accused sugar mills of operating arbitrarily and leaving the farmers at their mercy.
Officials informed the committee that 11 million tonnes of sugarcane had been crushed so far, producing 922,000 tonnes of sugar, while 138,000 tonnes of sugar bed from last year remained available.
The chairman criticized the deregulation policy for wheat and sugarcane and warned that no completely free market exists anywhere in the world.
He questioned whether the government intended to eliminate sugarcane cultivation altogether.
The committee decided to consult the Minister of National Food Security to devise a workable solution for sugarcane pricing while complying with IMF conditions and protecting farmers.
