Governor for fixing good support price of sugarcane

LAHORE:Punjab Governor Sardar Saleem Haider Khan while addressing a press conference regarding the problems of farmers here on Thursday at the Governor’s House here said that the government should fix good support price of sugarcane for the farmers and ensure payment.

Flanked by Secretary of Pakistan Peoples' Party Central Punjab, Syed Hassan Murtaza, governor said that attention should be paid on agriculture sector as it would boost the economy of the country.

Governor said that he would send the demands of the farmers to the Punjab government in writing.

Governor said that the PMLN and the PPP are coalition partners, adding that this is an alliance of compulsion for the sake of the country’s interest. He said that the PPP would stand with the PMLN where the country’s institutions are damaged and the system is unstable. He said that the government should complete five years as it will bring economic and political stability in the country.

In response to a question, the governor said that as the Governor of Punjab, it was his responsibility to identify the areas where there is a deficiency and room for improvement. He said that the government should solve the problem of smog on war footing. He said that the work done by the Caretaker Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi to handle the issue of smog during his tenure was commendable. He said that the current government should implement the plans made by the Caretaker Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi so that the problem of smog can be solved. He said that the Caretaker CM should be praised for taking good steps to effectively tackling the issue of smog.

General Secretary of the People's Party Central Punjab, Syed Hassan Murtaza, said that farmers are considered the backbone of the economy in Pakistan. He said that farmers in Punjab have been facing difficulties for many years. He condemned calling farmers mafia. He posed a question are not those who sell fertilizers to farmers at high prices and do not provide proper seeds mafia? Hassan Murtaza said that the sugarcane crushing season is about to start; however, its price has not been fixed yet. Tahir Saleem, Vice Chairman of the Kisan Ittehad, said that agriculture is the backbone of the country's economy. The government fixes the price of wheat and sugarcane. Despite fixing the price of wheat, it was not purchased. He said that fertilizer is cheap in neighbouring countries and farmers get free electricity. He said that farmers are demanding that the price of sugarcane be fixed at Rs550 per maund. The Vice Chairman said that the government should declare an agricultural emergency in the country for one year. He said that a call for a peaceful protest has been given in front of the Punjab Assembly on November 20.

Earlier, a delegation of the Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan led by Chairman Faisal Jahangir Malik and Chief Patron Punjab Pir Syed Nazim Hussain Shah met with Governor Sardar Saleem Haider at the Governor’s House here.

During the meeting, the delegation presented proposals to the governor regarding improving rice exports. Speaking on the occasion, governor said that Pakistan is the best country in the world in terms of agricultural products and its products have a special recognition all over the world. He said that it is a matter of great joy that our rice exports are increasing every year, which is not only increasing the country's foreign exchange but also making the country's name famous at the global level. Governor said that our basmati rice is an example for the world. He said that by focusing on other crops along with rice, further improvement can be brought to the country's economy. He said that everyone should work together to make the country better and stronger. He said that stability in the country's economy and increasing business opportunities are the promise of a bright Pakistan. Governor Punjab further said that the doors of the Governor’s House are always open to the people. He also congratulated the newly-elected Chairman of the Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan, Faisal Jahangir Malik.

Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan Chairman Faisal Jahangir Malik told the governor that with the government's patronage, we can take rice exports to six billion dollars. The delegation apprised the governor of other issues faced by them. Governor Punjab assured to convey their problems to the Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. The delegation comprised of Secretary General Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan Kashif-ur-Rehman, Mohibullah, Chaudhry Zulfiqar, Tayyab Bashir, Adnan Sheikh, Shahbaz Begum, Tariq Mahmood, Noman Mubashir, Abu Bakar Mirza and others.