LAHORE: All Pakistan Textile Mills Association APTMA congratulated Shahzad Ali Khan on his appointment as Vice President Pakistan Central Cotton Committee PCCC with all regulatory authority vested in him.
Chairman APTMA Mohsin Aziz, Group Leader APTMA Gohar Ejaz, Central Vice Chairman APTMA & Chairman Pakistan Cotton Forum Seth Akbar, Chairman APTMA Punjab Ahsan Bashir & Chairman APTMA Sindh Yasin Siddique in separate messages reposed full confidence in abilities of Shahzad Khan as Vice Chairman PCCC and hoped he would leave no stone unturned in stimulating dead horse of cotton research in Pakistan. India already made miracles by enhancing cotton production from 12 million bales to 30 million bales. Pakistan is yet lagging behind due to a fragile front of cotton research.
The government agreeing to APTMA recommendation reconstituted PCCC to improve cotton research and development to increase productivity from an average 700kg per acre to 1,200kg ahead. APTMA agreed to raise cotton cess from Rs20 per bale to Rs50 per bale provided private sector is allowed to lead PCCC.
APTMA also collect more funds required to undertake research projects and paying market-based salaries to scientists.
APTMA made proposal to reconstitute committee with greater representation of private sector stakeholders by more than one and a half years ago. The 25-member reconstituted PCCC will be dominated by 17 members representing textile industry, ginners, farmers & Karachi Cotton Association.
According to notification, Shahzad Khan from APTMA would head day to day affairs of PCCC as Vice President, five more APTMA members will be in committee representing each province, three members each from Farmers Associate Pakistan, Pakistan Cotton Ginners Association & Karachi Cotton Association to chalk out detailed roadmap on cotton research, a leap forward in cotton production and rehabilitation of organizational structure of cotton research scientists in the country.
APTMA Group Leader Gohar Ejaz has been advocating for larger presence for private sector in PCCC for judicial use of cotton cess funds for developing research to increase per acre yield in view of its growing demand by domestic spinning industry. Prime objective of this public private partnership is to turn cotton research committee into a centre of excellence.
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