'Textile millers always supported, protected rights of growers'

Chairman, All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA), Mohsin Aziz said that the textile millers have always supported and protected rights of the growers. "We did never adopt victimising and monopolising policy in our trade and have been supporting farmers and ginners at every platform", he added and said that they have never discriminated against growers and ginners.
Talking to a group of reporters, he said that there was a move to impose ban on cotton exports, but APTMA as a body has always strongly opposed any such move and remained greater supporter of free market mechanism, so the every sector benefits and open to world market and pricing thereof.
He, however, said that the cotton prices have come down in international market, whereas, the New York feature has also declined for last ten days because of which cotton prices were recorded low.
Aziz said that a large number of textile mills have been closed down because of closure of many spinning units due to power and gas shortage, which was resulted low lifting of cotton.
He said that the textile units are running very low efficiency. He maintained that the most of textile units were remained close three days within one week, which ultimately resulting low cotton lifting. Owing to high interest rate and lack liquidity, he said that many spinning mills are in position of stocking and lifting stock.
For the benefit of farmers, he informed that APTMA is working very closely with the Ministries to improve research and development of cotton and cotton seed, so that the farmers could benefit out of greater output and productivity per acre yield.
Therefore, he said APTMA and spinners have never indulged in making cartel and also believe that growers and mills are the one, and there is no question of under cutting and foul play. APTMA chief urged upon the government to remove the impediment, especially in field power and gas and also bring down interest rate which prevail in the region, which would in turn not only the beneficial for the industry, but also the farmers to a great extent.