Inherent resilience in textile sector must be complemented with immediate announcement of export package by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to overcome the ill impacts of climate change on cotton value chain in Pakistan, said Vice President Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce & industry (FCCI), Jamil Ahmed.
He was talking to a group of researchers from Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) and Overseas Development Institute UK. They are preparing a documentary on impacts of climate change on cotton value chain in Pakistan. Jamil Ahmed said that Faisalabad is predominantly an agro industrial city. It was contributing towards textile exports in a big way. Out of our total exports of 26 billion dollars 50 percent in contributed by textile and out of it half is originated from Faisalabad alone.
He mentioned the recent floods that have played havoc with vast tracks of Punjab province. Various crops were badly damaged including cotton crop while thousands of farmers were displaced, he added He said that Pakistan is fourth largest cotton producing country. No doubt BT cotton has played an important role in enhancing per acre yield of cotton but still we are producing cotton with short lint which is generally regarded as low quality hence many textile mills owners have to import fine quality cotton to produce the fine yarn counts.
He said that our research institutes have done excellent job but we need for the commercialisation of various technologies developed by our scientists and researchers. He also explained in detail the bad impacts of energy crisis and told that many leading units have become sick while a large number of other units are working with only half of their installed capacity.
Continuing, Vice President FCCI said that government has ensured continuous electricity supply to some extent but its cost is very high and exporters are facing a daunting competition from our regional competitors. He said that textile has a major share in national GDP but it has not been given its proportionate share in policy making and funding. He stressed the need to consult textile sector in formulation of all major economic policies.
He also said that PM should immediately announce the export package to restore the competitiveness of our textile sector. Later, he also recorded his views for a documentary prepared by SDPI on impact of climatic change on cotton value chain. Samavia Batool of SDPI and Rajeshree Sisodia of Overseas Development Institute UK discussed various related issues with Jamil Ahmed vice president FCCI.