PAKISTAN TO PRODUCE 13 MILLION BALES OF COTTON

PAKISTAN has recovered its cotton losses from last year and is expected to achieve approximately 13 million bales of cotton in the coming season. These facts were reported to the meeting of Federal Textile Board (FTB), chaired by Minister of Commerce, Khurram Dastgir Khan.

In their separate submissions, Pakistan Cotton Ginners Association (PCGA) and Cotton Commissioner informed the committee that through close coordination between federal and Punjab government the pink bollworm which had damaged the cotton crop last year have largely been controlled. Furthermore, a large number of farmers have been trained to drain their fields properly so that their crops can be safeguarded.

All the stakeholders across the value chain beginning from ginners, weavers, spinners, bed sheet manufacturers and garment manufacturers made detailed presentations on current state of exports in their sectors and gave suggestions for improvements in the policies.

The minister said the government had already facilitated the exporters through zero rating, unprecedented cuts in exports financing rates, uninterrupted supply of electricity and gas and repeated reduction in electricity prices and assured the stakeholders of full government support.

The minister expressed confidence that in spite of challenging international environment Pakistani exporters have the ability to rise to the challenge and grow Pakistani exports.