Sugar mill owners refuse to negotiate with government

Conflicts crop up between Punjab government and sugar mill owners as the Lahore High Court (LHC) ordered to sell sugar at Rs 40 per Kg. The Punjab government has deployed police at several sugar mills whereas mill owners refused to negotiate with the government. The sugar mill owners said that the Punjab government previously fixed a price of Rs 45/Kg without consulting them and when they were ready to sell it at that price, the LHC set the price at Rs 40/Kg without hearing their point of view. The mill owners have decided to go to the court instead of talking to the Punjab government after LHC decision. They said that the decision was made without listening to their views and they could not provide sugar at the price fixed. On the other hand, the Punjab government has deployed police at the sugar mills to ensure the implementation of LHC decision. Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif said the government will take legal and administrative steps to implement the LHC decision which, he said, has been made for the welfare of the people.