ISLAMABAD – The federal government has announced that the sugarcane crushing season will officially begin on November 15, following consultations with provincial authorities and the Pakistan Sugar Mills Association (PSMA). The decision was finalised during a meeting of the Sugar Advisory Board chaired by Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research Rana Tanveer Hussain.
During the meeting, key issues related to the sugar industry and market stability were discussed. Minister Rana Tanveer Hussain stressed that strict action would be taken against sugar mills that fail to begin crushing operations on time, ensuring no delays that could harm farmers’ livelihoods.
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He also directed mills to make full payments to farmers before the start of the season, emphasizing that the government’s top priority is to safeguard growers’ rights and prevent exploitation.
“The government is making decisions in the best interest of farmers so they don’t get the short end of the stick,” the minister stated. He added that timely crushing will not only ease the financial burden on farmers but also help stabilize sugar prices in the domestic market.
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