ISLAMABAD: The Competition Commission of Pakistan on Wednesday announced that the first round of hearings in ‘sugar cartelisation case’ would be concluded by the next week.
The CCP had commenced hearings on Jan 7 in the proceedings against Pakistan Sugar Mills Association (PSMA) and 84 member mills for prima facie cartelisation in violation of Section 4 of the Competition Act 2010, a press release said.
Hearings were held this year on Jan 7, 8, 11, 15 and 20, respectively, and so far the commission had heard PSMA and 40 sugar mills through their respective counsels, the CCP press release said.
The matter was initially fixed for hearing last year on Nov 20, 24 and 25, however, owing to requests from the respondents’ adjournments were granted. The first round of hearings is underway with counsels raising their preliminary objections before the bench.
The Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) has commenced hearings in the proceedings against Pakistan Sugar Mills Association (PSMA) and 84 member mills
Punjab govt finds evidence about mills selling sugar ‘off the book’
National
January 18, 2021
ISLAMABAD: The Punjab government claimed on Saturday that officials associated with its Cane Department got hands on some “conclusive evidence” against several sugar mills which were selling sugar off the book in an apparent attempt to dodge taxes. There is a strong circumstantial evidence of huge quantities of sugar being sold off-the-book. Following facts point to this illegal practice. If off-the-book purchases from the middlemen and the purchase centres are accounted for, figures of off-the-book sale of sugar go much higher. They (millers) have established their purchase centres in the field where sugarcane is purchased from the farmers. Almost all the sugar mills were found not issuing cane purchase receipts (CPRs) at these centres, cane commissioner Punjab revealed in a letter written to the Punjab Industries Department.