The Central Executive Committee of Pakistan Cotton Ginners Association (PCGA)has expressed its concern on the issuance of notices to the ginners by the livestock department and the Federal Board of Revenue describing them unjust and demanded for withdrawal of cases instituted against ginners.
Presiding over a meeting of CEC Nawabzada Shahezad Ali Khan has stressed the need for imposing complete ban on the import of cotton and cotton yarn from India till the end of cotton season and disposal of one million bales lying in ginneries as unsold stock.
Chairman Shehzad Ali Khan, Group Chairman Haji Muhammad Akram,former chairman Mukhtar Ahmed Baloch, Amanullah Qureshi, and Suhail Mehmood Haral and orthers said at a meeting of central executive council of PCGA said that textile sector was purchasing local cotton on throwaway rates and on the other hand, it was importing cotton/yarn from India on higher rates, which is a great injustice to Pakistani farmers who had incurred a loss of more than Rs 200 billion.
They said that cotton crisis for 2015-16 had broken the back of the farmers as well as ginners and both are facing severe economic stress. They reiterated their demand that government should announce a bailout package for ginning industry. They were of the view that there were devious stratagems to ruin the Pakistani agriculture and making it a food dependent country. Shehzad Ali Khan suggested that government should launch a vigorous drive "sow the cotton-Save the Economy" and take measures on war footing basis to achieve the target of 20 million bales.
He further said the chief ministers of Sindh and Punjab should take interest personally to achieve the targets. He complained that textile mills were paying outstanding dues of ginners in spite of being in good financial position and APTMA must ensure the clearance of ginners' dues as early as possible and it should develop a relation of good buyer with ginners.
He sought an immediate direction for the electricity distribution companies to correct the month of January bills in accordance with the Prime Minister's announcement of Rs 3 reduction in industrial tariff, followed by the February 4 notification by the Ministry of Water and Power. Shehzad Ali Khan has demanded the government to involve the PCGA and other stakeholders to formulate national cotton policy which should cover all aspects of cotton trade, including fixation of support price, target of production and grant of permission for the import of cotton.
Comments
Comments are closed.