ISLAMABAD   -  The middlemen mafia has once again become active against the farmers and the sugar mills in Punjab.

Middle-men are purchasing the sugarcane from the farmers through dubious means which is totally against the government orders. These middlemen are buying sugarcane on lesser rates than the prices fixed by the government. On the other hand, these middle-men are selling sugarcane to the sugar mills on higher rates other than the government-fixed prices. This action not only goes against the government writ but also against the sugar mills which are compelled to buy sugarcane on exorbitant rates in order to keep the mills running. In a statement, a spokesman of Pakistan Sugar Mills Association said that middlemen are exploiting the farmers and also compelling the sugar mills to pay higher price of the crop.

He added that one-kilogramme of sugar is the 80 percent of the total cost of sugarcane, hence it will eventually increase the price of sugar due to a hike in production cost of sugarcane. For the benefit of public, sugar mills’ owners are bound to keep their mills functional even at the cost of their loss but the sugar mills cannot continue this practice for long. This situation also made the sugar mills’ owners think that for how long they can keep running the mills. Pakistan Sugar Mills Association has demanded the government take strict action against the middle-men otherwise the ex-mill rates of sugar, which are currently at their lowest in a year, may rise. Farmers, masses, sugar mills and the government have already endured this situation last year. In current circumstances, there is a strong need to stop these middlemen from such malpractices.