ISLAMABAD (March 17 2004): Industries and Production Minister Liaquat Ali Jatoi informed the National Assembly on Tuesday that Sindh mill owners were yet to pay Rs 120 million to the sugarcane growers.

Responding to a point of order raised by Nawab Yousaf Talpur of Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians (PPPP), the minister said that the mill owners had assured him of payment to the growers within seven to 10 days.

He said that the mill owners had already paid Rs 735 million to the growers, as they had clearly been told to make payments if they wanted to sell their commodity to the government.

"The government has linked purchase of sugar from mill owners to timely payment to the growers," he said, adding that 99 percent payment to Punjab growers had been made.

Jatoi laid emphasis on elimination of middleman's role in sugarcane transactions, saying usually they bought the commodity on cheaper prices and sold it to the mill owners on higher rates.

In this direction, he made mention of the 12-member committee formed last week to give recommendations on how to do away with the middleman's role and timely payment to the growers.

Jatoi expressed the hope that the committee would forward its recommendations within a week or so, as the government wanted a better co-ordination between the mill owners and the growers.

He disputed Talpur's contention that 6o percent growers had not been paid so far, adding that he had authentic information that 90 percent payments had been made.

Courtesy Business Recorder