Mutilated bodies issues taken up with Centre
Sameer Nazir
KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah keeping in view the demand of the growers and public has increased minimum price of sugarcane from Rs155 to Rs182 and urged sugar mill owners to start crushing.
Addressing a press conference here at the CM House on Sunday, the chief minister said that the price of sugar cane which was reduced from Rs 182 to Rs 155 per maund has been re-fixed at Rs182. “This decision has been taken on the public demand,” he said.
The chief minister who was flanked by Senior Minister for Education Mr Nisar Ahmed Khuhro and Minister for Agriculture Mr Ali Nawaz Maher in the press conference said “the prices of agricultural inputs have increased considerably, therefore the Agriculture Department, in consultation with the growers and sugar mill owners, had fixed the sugarcane price at Rs182 per maund but the mill owners challenged it in the court, therefore it was reduced to Rs155 per maund but this was not accepted by the public. Now it has been re-fixed at Rs182 per 40 kg.”
The chief minister urged the sugar mill owners to start crushing and start purchasing sugarcane.
Replying to a question Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah said that the support price of wheat has been fixed at Rs1250/ per maund. “Last year it was Rs1200 but this year due increase in the inputs of agricultural supplies it has been increased by Rs50. Therefore, it comes to Rs1250 per 40 kg,” he said.
To a question the Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah said that there was 1 million of wheat was lying in the godowns of Sindh government. Similarly, about three million tons of wheat were in the godowns of Punjab. “Despite the fact the federal government allowed import of wheat,” he lamented.
He also disclosed that the traders have imported substandard wheat which is not fit for human consumption. “We have taken up the issue with the federal government because it is a provincial subject,” he said.
The chief minister replying to another question said that the Sindh government was giving a subsidy of Rs4.5 billion on wheat. “The purpose is to shoulder the burden of poor people so that they can have atta (flour) on a reasonable price,” he said.
RECOVERIES OF MUTILATED BODIES
Replying to a question, the chief minister said that his government was in contact with Ministry of Interior on the issue of recoveries of mutilated bodies of youngsters. “The IG Sindh is also inquiring into the matter,” he assured.
The chief minister said the inquiry being conducted into the killing of youngsters would be finalized within 15 days to one month.
LOCAL BODIES ELECTION:
Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah, replying to a question, said that the Sindh government was ready to hold local bodies elections. “It was a provincial subject and we were holding the elections on party basis but he Supreme Court said the election Commission was authorised for the purpose, therefore elections could not be held.” he said and added that the ECP has given an statement that they could not conduct local bodies election shortly.