Pakistan to witness bumper cotton crop, claims APTMA

LAHORE

Chairman All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA) Ahsan Bashir has said that Pakistan would witness bumper cotton crop this year, expectedly a total of 15 million bales.

He has described it as a phenomenal outcome of the Free Market policy of the government, which has also ensured record cotton prices to the farmers over the last three years.

While appreciating the government for keeping intact the free market mechanism in the larger interest of all stakeholders including growers, ginners and millers, Ahsan said All Pakistan Textile Mills Association has had been on the front foot for advocating free market mechanism to maximum resource transfer to the farm sector annually.

He has further added that the cotton prices in Pakistan are above the international cotton prices at present.

The Industry, as a matter of fact, is being overcharged by Rs. 200/ Maund for Pakistan cotton whereas international cotton can easily be imported at Rs. 6,000/ maund on Pakistani cotton parity basis.

Pakistani spinners have therefore made agreements in the International cotton market for purchase of over one million bales during the last one week. Resultantly, he said, this may lead to surplus cotton in Pakistan at the outset of next cotton season.