After hectic efforts of Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, the Uzbekistan government has agreed to provide one million cotton bales to Pakistan by 30th June 2011. All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (Aptma) Chairman Gohar Ejaz said on Saturday that the Uzbekistan government has agreed to provide cotton bales purely on business terms.
According to him, no such import of cotton has ever taken place from Uzbekistan to Pakistan over the last 10 years. China was major importer besides the international traders of Uzbek cotton with 80 percent advance payment as cash. However, the Uzbek government has amended this law for Pakistan and the condition of 80 percent advance cash has also been withdrawn. Further, he said, the Uzbek index was higher than A index and the Uzbek government agreed to provided cotton on A index. Gohar, besides Minister for Privatisation Syed Naveed Qamar, Minister for Food and Agriculture Israrullah Zehri and State Minister for Foreign Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar, was part of a Pak delegation to Uzbekistan.
Gohar said Prime Minister Gilani has become a hero for the textile industry as he has resolved the cotton shortage issue through holding successful negotiations with his Uzbek counterpart Shavket Mirziyayev and Uzbek President Islam Karimov.
According to him, Pakistan was facing a shortage of one million cotton bales due to non-availability of cotton from traditional suppliers like Indian and the US. He said Pakistan would be for the first time importing cotton from Uzbekistan and all credit goes to President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani.
Gohar said that four meetings were held with Uzbek government where the issue relating to pricing formula on the basis of A index was also resolved. Gohar said this agreement has brought a sigh of relief to the textile industry, as now it can meet shortage of remaining one million cotton bales upto June 30, 2011.