Over 2.118 million bales of cotton purchased till first October: PCGA

Pakistan Cotton Ginners Association (PCGA) Chairman Amanullah Qureshi has said that textile mills had purchased 2,118,639 bales of cotton till October 1st, 2011 and exporters had purchased 74,050 bales while unsold stock of 606,084 bales was lying in the ginneries.
Talking to newsmen he said, "I am optimistic that cotton production would touch the figures of 15 million bales in spite of monsoon rains and flood in Sindh and Punjab. He said that cotton production had increased by 452.40 percent in Lodhran, 406.47 percent in Muzaffargarh 475.06 percent in Mianwali. He said that government should alert the Trading Corporation of Pakistan (TCP) to come into the arena as third buyer in case of falling the rates in the market. He said total 2,798,773 bales of cotton were received till October 1st, 2011.
It was 181,455 bales more than last year showing an increase of 6.93 percent in the production in spite of flood in Sindh, Monsoon rains, diseases and pest attacks. Aman-ullah Qureshi said that total 765 ginning factories are operational in Sindh and Punjab. Recent floods had badly hit the cotton crop in the districts of Nawabshah, Sangarh, Mirpurkhas etc. He said that 36.95 percent cotton was destroyed Sindh, 37.78 percent in Hyderabad, Mirpurkhas 57.91 percent, Sangarh 41.45, Nawabshah 67.89, Naushero Feroze 28.87 percent, Khairpur 16.44 percent.
However, 100 percent increase in Ghotki, 40.84 percent increase in Sukkur, Dadu 94.81 percent decline, Jamshoro and Badin 100 percent increase. In Punjab production has increased by 61.10 percent Multan 234.06 percent, Lodhran 452.40 percent, Khanewal 71.75 percent, in Muzaffargarh, 406.47 percent, Dera Ghazi Khan 140.91 percent, Rajanpur 48.26 percent, Layya 37.45 percent short, Vehari 38.07 percent increase, Sahiwal 30.92 percent, Pakpattan 15.84 percent, Okara 12.88 percent, Kasur 205 percent, Tobna Tek Singh 58.70, Faisalabad 0.22 percent short, Jhan 107.34 percent increase, Mianwali 475.56 percent, Bhakkar 100.58 percent, Sargodha 236.17 percent, Rahimyarkhan 112.65 percent, Bahawalpur 110.51 percent, and Bahawalnagar 52.78 percent.
Cotton production in the country has increased by 6.93 percent as the arrivals recorded at the ginneries as on October 1st, 2011 stood at 27,98,773 bales, showing a increase of 6.93 percent from 2,617,318 bales received in the corresponding period of last year. The unsold stock is 606,084 bales which is more than last year, when unsold stock was 487,550 Pakistan Cotton Ginners Association (PCGA), Chairman briefed reporters about the monthly report.
Punjab contributed 18,87,120 bales, last year it contributed 11,71,400 bales showing an increase of 61.10 percent. Similarly Sindh contributed 911,653 bales against the last year production of 1,445,918 bales showing a decrease of 36.95 percent and Balochistan 10,000 bales to take the total to 9,11,653 bales.
District-wise production data showed that Multan contributed 75,744 bales, Lodhran 46,899 bales, Khanewal 2,56,125 bales, Muzaffargarh 23,333 bales, Dera Ghazi Khan 24,573 bales, Rajanpur 23,700 bales, Layyah 13,100 bales, Vehari 3,02,138 bales, Sahiwal 2,39,820 bales, Pakpattan 1,05,160 bales, Okara 18,400 bales, Kasur 6,100 bales, Toba Tek Singh 1,13,110 bales, Faisalabad 39,784 bales, Jhang 61,994 bales, Mianwali 12,950 bales, Bhakkar 34,300 bales, Sargodha 15,800, Rahim Yar Khan 1,07,600 bales, Bahawalpur 1,51,990 bales, and Bahawalnagar 2,14,500 bales.
Sindh's district-wise production figures were: Hyderabad 1,03,083 bales, Mirpurkhas 72,509 bales, Sanghar 4,50,440 bales, Nawabshah 40,589 bales, Naushero Feroze 45,427 bales, Khairpur 55,532 bales, Ghotki 7,973 bales, Sukkur 61,274 bales, and Dadu 2,145 bales. Balochistan added 10,000 bales to the total. The PCGA reiterated demand to the government to announce relief and bail out package for cotton ginning factories of flood-hit areas and survey of such area should be completed shortly.