Govt urged to impose ban on import of raw-cotton

RECORDER REPORT

MULTAN: Pakistan Cotton Ginners Association (PCGA) Chairman Mahesh Kumar has strongly opposed the import of cotton and urged upon the government to impose ban on the import of raw-cotton from different countries by spending precious foreign exchange because local produce was sufficient to meet the requirement of textile industry.

Talking to newsmen here on Friday he said that Pakistan can’t afford to rely on imported raw material. He said that at least 1,772,447 bales are lying unsold in the cotton ginning factories of the country.

Textile millers have developed a cartel to keep the cotton prices at the lowest ebb. Chairman of ginners group Haji Muhammad Akram, Ex Chairman Pakistan Cotton Ginners Association (PCGA) Amanullah Qureshi and Vice-Chairman Chaudhry Waheed Arshad endorsed his demand and said that textile millers should give priority to local cotton and they should desist from importing raw-cotton from other countries.

They should save the precious foreign exchange besides safeguarding the interest of local growers. The PCGA fortnightly report shows that around 9.58 million cotton bales were sourced to the country’s ginners by December 1, 2012 which shows a decrease of 0.70 percent than last year.

PCGA Chairman Mahesh Kumar briefed journalists about seed-cotton (phutti) arrivals, sales and unsold stock of cotton. He said that 76,50,373 cotton bales were sold to the textile units and exporters bought 1,59,740 bales. Thus, overall 7,810,113 bales were traded without TCP participating in the trading activity so far. He said that PCGA was expecting bumper crop which may crossed the figures of 14 million bales.

Kumar said that total 985 out of 1200 ginning factories are operational in Sindh and Punjab. The chairman of PCGA said that Punjab contributed 66,05,379 bales which 12.40 percent less than last year when Punjab contributed 75,40,309 bales, Sindh contributed 29,77,181 bales which 41.11 percent more than last year when it contributed 21,09,793 bales and Balochistan 46,087 bales.

The textile industry purchased 76,50,373 bales and 17,72,447 bales were available with ginners as unsold stock. He said that cotton trading remained firm amid strong physical price and higher cottonseed prices. District wise cotton arrival in Punjab: Multan 2,79,712  bales 29.23 percent less than last year, Lodhran 1,92,498 bales 28.73 percent less, Khanewal 7,19,475 showing a decrease of 6.62 percent, Muzaffargarh 3,06,319 bales 9.99 percent less, Dera Ghazi Khan 2,22,820 showed a derease of 15.62 percent, Rajanpur 3,14,431 bales showing a decrease of 11.29.

Heavy rains and spate on hill-torrents badly hit the cotton crop in Ranjapur and Dera Ghazi Khan district, Layyah 1,29,055 bales 35.42 percent less than last year, Vehari 7,23,587 bales 6.39 percent short, Sahiwal 4,76,974 decreased 9.88 percent ,Pakpattan 2,10,979 showing 18.25 percent less than preceding year, Okara 49,423 showing an increase of 15.93 percent, Kasur 37,200, Toba Tek Singh, 2,20,827  bales, Faisalabad 53,947, Jhang 1,42,405, Mianwali 1,93,326, Bhakkar 1,42,200, Sargodha 22,400, Rahimyar Khan, 6,58,299, Bahawalpur 7,42,602 and Bahawalnagar 7,66,900 bales.

District wise cotton arrival in Sindh, Hyderabad 2,32,237 bales showing an increase of 32.84 percent, Mirpur Khas 3,79,237, showing bumper crop with 184.21 percent increase, Sangarh 12,28,846, Nawabshah 2,06,825, Naushero Feroze 1,69,654, Khairpur 1,62,173, Ghotki 1,30,243, Sukkur 2,20,012,Dadu 22,909, Jamshoro 1,36,982, Badin 40,800 and Baluchistan 46,087 bales.