NA Committee to recommend revival of SSC

KARACHI: National Assembly Standing Committee on Textile Industry will ask Sindh Government to reactivate Sindh Seed Corporation (SSC) to facilitate the production and supply of quality cotton seeds including Bacillus Thuringiensis (Bt) cotton to growers in the province.

This was stated by the chairman of the committee and MNA Haji Muhammad Akram Ansari at briefings of Pakistan Cotton Standard Institute (PCSI), Pakistan Textile City, Textile Commissioner's Organisation (TCO) and Pakistan Central Cotton Committee at the office of Textile Commissioner here Thursday.

MNA Tariq Shabbir, MNA Manwer Lal, MNA Syed Amir Shah and Deputy Secretary of the Committee Roomana Gul Kakar, Joint Secretary Ministry of Agriculture and senior officials were also present on the occasion.

He said that the committee will write a letter to Sindh government to revive this organisation as it will be helpful in the multiplication of Bt cotton seeds when they are approved and available for cultivation in the country. "The structure is there and we must utilize this facility to support growers", he stressed.

Ansari noted that textile was the largest export earning sector for Pakistan and mainstay of the national economy and sufficient availability of cotton was a must to further increase country's exports.

He underlined the need for increasing cotton production and introduction of Bt cotton seed can play a vital role in this regard.

The Committee was told by PCSI that availability and cultivation of Bt cotton seed was very much possible in the country if proper legislation is done, ensuring to protect the patent rights of multinational Monsanto in Pakistan.

The committee was further informed that the bill for Bt cotton has been submitted in National Assembly for legislation.

Ansari advised TCO to prepare accurate data for unorganized weaving (looms) sector so that the policy can be devised to support them for replacement of old technology and machine. The data can be prepared with the help of Federal Board of Revenue, he added.

The committee asked Pakistan Textile City management to ensure availability of electricity and gas for investors on immediate basis so that sale of industrial plots is started as soon as possible.

Copyright APP (Associated Press of Pakistan), 2011