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Concern over decision to raise phutti rates

RECORDER REPORT

SUKKUR: The ginners of Sukkur and Ghotki districts have expressed their profound concern over the decision of raising phutti rates from Rs 560 to Rs 730 per kg, taken by the Sukkur Administration.

Speaking at a press conference at a local hotel General Secretary Mian Moin Akhter and President Abdul Ghani of the ginners association said they had a meeting with Sukkur Additional Commissioner Ahmed Fahim, Agriculture deputy director and Sukkur Additional Commissioner-I were also present, but the growers did not attend the meeting.

The additional commissioner declared in the meeting that new rates of phutti have been fixed at Rs 730 per 40 kg which have been accepted by the growers and now the ginners should also accept the same.

On ginners' refusal to accept the enhanced rates the additional commissioner threatened them of dire consequences which may lead to their arrest. He also had hinted to make them close down their factories. The police guard had been deployed at the factories to block the stocks. This threat created harassment among the ginners.

The ginners' leaders said they pay millions of rupees in term of different taxes. The increase in the rates of phutti is sheer injustice with them. They said they told the additional commissioner that the former Sukkur Commissioner Jamil Ahmed Siddiqi had fixed the rate at Rs 560 per 40 kg from December 20, to January 2000, but he did not agree and insisted to accept the new rates from October 1999, to January 24, 2000.

The ginners said they have already filed a petition in the High Court in this connection.

The ginners appealed to Chief Executive General Pervez Musharraf and Sindh Governor Air Marshal Mohammad Azim Daudpota (Rtd) to intervene to save ginners from starvation.