Pakistan cotton production has declined by 5,100,000 bales during the current season which has caused loss of Rs200 billion to national kitty. The federal commerce minister Khurram Dastgir Khan expressing serious concern over the decline in cotton production situation of the country assured the delegation of Cotton Ginners Association (PCGA) of taking immediate and solid steps as they cannot afford huge losses and cotton import due to limited resources.

The minister urged the ginners to work like a team to motivate the growers/farmers for cultivation of cotton on maximum area. The minister said that the Ministry of Commerce would work in collaboration with the provincial governments to enhance the production of cotton in the country.

The prime concern of the government is to ensure the interests of the farmers besides boosting the textile exports. He urged the representatives of PCGA to launch a campaign for educating farmers so that they could grow more cotton in a proper manner. It was decided that a meeting of all the stakeholders will be convened to prepare a holistic strategy to address the issues of cotton production, quality of cotton and its import mechanism.

Chairman of PCGA, Nawab Shehzad Ali Khan suggested that support price of Phutti (seed-cotton)) be fixed at Rs3,000 per 40 kg and it must be announced immediately to attract the growers.

He said that as the national cotton policy was being delayed, sugar mills were being shifted to core cotton zone by the ruling party people. He also stressed the need to impose a complete ban on the import of cotton and its thread from India till the end of cotton season and disposal of bales lying in ginneries as unsold stock.

Shehzad urged to government to launch a vigorous drive with motto “Sow the cotton; Save the Economy” and take urgent steps to achieve 20 million bales target.

He urged the government to announce a bailout package for the ginning industry, saying that conspiracies were underway to harm Pakistani agriculture.