20000223

Deployment of police at ginning factories deplored

RECORDER REPORT

SUKKUR: The ginners body has expressed its concern over deployment of police force at their factories in Upper Sindh.

Addressing a press conference here on Monday, Upper Sindh Cotton Ginners Association President Mian Moin Akhter said a prolonged row between the ginners and the growers over the procurement price of cotton and seeds was existing, and the administration on the pretext to give protection to ginners had deployed police force which was not allowing any cargo to go out of the factories.

He said administration thus suspended production, procurement or sale by the ginners without issuing written orders for the blockade of the trade.

Giving example of the Faisal Cotton Factory, Salehpat, he said trucks load with cotton, bales, oil, oilseeds and oilcakes were stopped from going out of the factory by the police on the orders of Sukkur, Additional Commissioner.

He said that huge amounts, borrowed by the factories owners from the banks, were invested in their business, and hampering the business activities had brought the trade to a standstill, causing enormous loss.

He said that growers of Sukkur district were being paid Rs. 560 per 40 kgs as price of their cotton produce by ginners, while the growers of Ghotki were being paid upto Rs. 820 per 40 kg.

Akhtar said the rates, as a matter of routine, used to be fixed after 30 days of the arrival of the fresh cotton crop and the Amanati Phutti was not supposed to be stagnated the whole year. Payment to suppliers had already been made, he said.

He appealed to the Chief Executive Gen. Pervez Musharraf, Sindh Governor Air Marshal Azim Daudpota (Retd) and the Sindh chief secretary to intervene into the matter and restrain administration taking such coercive decision which would ruin the ginners.