The Sindh Abadgar Board (SAB) has requested Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah to restart the official regulation of the sugarcane crushing season and procurement prices. Mahmood Nawaz Shah, President of the SAB, called for the provincial government to enforce the Sugar Factories Control Act, 1950.
Shah noted that sugar mills typically began crushing in October, but started in December last year because the government failed to issue a notification. The President warned that failing to notify the season or price leaves growers at the mercy of mills, which he said is "contrary to the spirit of the law and it has tilted the balance in favour of sugar mills."
Small and medium-sized growers have suffered the most from the deregulation of prices and the crushing season, according to Shah. Many small growers are now shifting to wheat cultivation on land that was previously used for sugarcane.
The provincial government has ceased issuing these notifications since 2025. The Sugar Factories Control Act underwent an amendment in 2009.
That 2009 amendment extended the previous October deadline and allowed the Sindh government to permit mills to start the season no later than 30 November.
