PM assures steps to protect interests of growers

Islamabad: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Tuesday assured the Federal Cabinet that all necessary initiatives would be taken to protect the interests of farmers and ensure supply of edibles items to general public at affordable prices.

Briefing the media persons about Cabinet meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Imran Khan, Special Assistant to the PM on Information andBroadcasting Dr. Firdous Ashiq Awan said Special Assistant to the PM on Accountability Shahzad Akbar presented the inquiry report on flour and sugar crisis before the Cabinet at the outset of meeting on the directives of the Prime Minister.

She said Shahzad Akbar informed the Cabinet that the concerned ministry had presented the report in the ECC meeting that there was about 2 million tones surplus sugar available in the country.

She said that after bumper crop of the sugarcane, the mill owners pleaded that they were unable to purchase the same due to alreadyavailable stock. In this situation the PM was briefed that for saving the interest of the farmers, it was necessary to hold consultations with mill owners and take export-oriented initiative.
She said that the PM issued directives for resolution of the farmers problems, however the federal government did not give any subsidy on the export of sugar.
She said the Cabinet was informed that in 2017, Salman Shahbaz, the son of former chief minister Punjab Shehbaz Sharif approached the thenPM Shahid Khaqan Abbasi to give Rs 20 billion subsidy for sugar export.
Similarly during 2014-18, Sindh government gave Rs 20 subsidy per kilogram on the sugar to benefit Omni group.

The SAPM said the present government for the first time since 2014 increased the price of sugarcane to protect the interests of the growers. 
The government has decided to take strict action against those involved in artificial crisis of wheat and sugar after release of Inquiry Commission’s final report on April 25, she said.

She said that after inquiry report, specific questions arose about effectiveness of the sugar policy. She said that the Cabinet decided to take corrective measures to save the people from any such artificial crisis in future.
She said that it was decided to introduce reforms in Competition Commission of Pakistan to make it an effective origination to controlcartelization. Besides, modern technology would be introduced in collection and maintenance of sugar industry data so that nobody could hoodwink the system in future, she added.

Firdous Ashiq Awan said the prime minister has warned that strict action would be taken against those found involved in hurling threats to the Commission.
The Special Assistant said the Prime Minister has directed to resolve the issues being faced by growers and farmers on immediate basis.
She said the government machinery was fully active to ensure the availability of quality edibles at affordable prices and no negligencewould be tolerated in this regard.

Giving details of the Cabinet agenda, she said that it gave approval to the decisions of Cabinet committee on energy besides approving inclusion of 62 more districts in universal service fund to improvebroadband service there.

She said that the Cabinet approved proposals regarding revamping, reconstructing and reorganizing Evacuee Trust Property Board andgave approval to utilization Evacuee Trust Board land for welfare purposes including health, education and housing sectors.