Govt finds evidence of 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.
Ministry unravels sugar mills’ bid to jack up rates
Says early start of crushing season deliberate move by mills to sell sugar at high prices
PHOTO: REUTERS
ISLAMABAD:
The federal government has rejected the allegations levelled by the Pakistan Sugar Mills Association (PSMA), saying that based on the date provided there is no shortage of sugarcane and the crop is not being sold at Rs300 per 40 kilos as stated in a letter written to the prime minister a week ago.
“According to the bank receipt issued to the farmers, sugarcane was bought at an average price of Rs220 per 40 kilos,” the Ministry of Industries and Production stated in response to the PSMA letter.
KARACHI: The government’s plan to pilot online surveillance of sugar production has confronted a technical barrier as real-time video connection with the tax system couldn’t be built.
A stalemate persists between sugar mills, farmers and government authorities on the value of sugarcane. - Photo by Umair Ali/File
ISLAMABAD: As consumers continue to suffer from high prices of various commodities, a stalemate persists between sugar mills, farmers and government authorities on the value of sugarcane.
The middlemen, on the other hand, were earning significant profits due to the new law that required payments through bank accounts only.
Minister for Industries and Production Hammad Azhar on Saturday acknowledged that sugar prices were once again on the rise and said the government was considering abolishing import duties on raw sugar to ensure adequate stocks in the country at reasonable prices.