The opposition members were of the view that if the government can take loans from banks on interest for Orange Line Metro Project then why they are not taking loan for buying sugarcane from the growers who are being exploited by mill owners. He said after buying sugarcane from the growers the government may sell it to the mill owners and recover their amount. Opposition leader in Punjab Assembly Mian Mahmmod-ur-Rasheed rejected the government claims that sugar mills in Punjab were buying sugar cane on Rs 180 per maund. He claimed that 90% sugar mills in Punjab were not giving Rs 180 per maund price to the growers.
PPP MPA Sardar Shahabuddin Sehar said there is no mechanism of buying sugarcane exists in the province. According to the Sugarcane Act 1954, mills are bound to start buying of sugarcane from November 15. He wondered as to why the government announced support prices of crops when they were unable to implement it. He alleged that sugar mills were issuing permits to farmers on liking and disliking and recommended the government that it should constitute a committee which will discuss the issues of pricing, permit and deduction.
Jamaat-e-Islami MPA Syed Wasim Akhter said that in Bahawlpur the middlemen of the mill owners were buying sugarcane from the farmers at the rate of Rs 60 per maund as compared to the announced price of Rs 180 per maund. PML-N MPA Warris Kalu said that the Sugarcane Act 1954 was made to benefit big industrialists. He said despite the monopoly of the mill owners they were claiming that they were in loss. While quoting the minister, Warris said that the government was giving subsidy to the sugar mill owners for exporting sugar.
Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah said there is a market mechanism of pricing and that is why there are complaints against some mills which are not giving announced price. He said 39 mills were buying sugarcane and there were complaints against only 18 mills. He said that Chief Minister Punjab is himself monitoring the situation and strict action is being taken against those mills whose owners and employees are involved in exploitation of farmers.
Earlier, questions relating to home department were answered by the parliamentary secretary. The Punjab Hepatitis Ordinance 2017, The Punjab Tainjin University of Technology Ordinance 2017 and The Punjab Charities Ordinance 2018, The Cholistan University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences Bahwalpur Bill 2018, The Bahwalpur Development Authority (Repeal) Bill 2018, The Code of Civil Procedure (Punjab Amendment) Bill 2018 and The Limitation (Punjab Amendment) Bill 2018 were introduced in the assembly.