Pakistan Government Vows to Boost Cotton Sector

APP

Islamabad: The Federal Government is fully committed to restructuring the Pakistan Central Cotton Committee (PCCC), revitalizing the cotton sector, and providing essential support to farmers, said Minister for National Food Security & Research, Rana Tanveer Hussain.

The minister expressed these views while presiding over the 90th Governing Body meeting of the PCCC at the Ministry of National Food Security & Research on Wednesday.

According to a press release, he emphasized the vital role of cotton in Pakistan’s economy and reiterated the government’s commitment to improving cotton production, quality, and exports, which are crucial for the country’s economic growth.

Rana Tanveer also recognized the importance of the textile industry in the national economy, expressing optimism that the ongoing cotton cess dispute would soon be resolved through consensus. He further showed interest in reviewing the FAO’s report on PCCC restructuring.

Dr. Yusuf Zafar, in his detailed presentation, updated the forum on the progress of the restructuring process, highlighting four comprehensive reports.

He also discussed the collaboration between CCRI Multan and Mahmood Textiles Group under the BCI project and urged the private sector to increase engagement in supporting cotton revival through public-private partnerships.

The meeting focused on resolving several key issues, including the long-standing cotton cess dispute between PCCC and the textile industry, as well as the overall restructuring of PCCC.

To address the cotton cess issue, the minister proposed the formation of a special committee with representatives from PCCC, APTMA, and the Ministry of National Food Security & Research. This committee is tasked with presenting a practical resolution within two weeks for the next meeting.

Dr. Yusuf Zafar also urged APTMA Chairman Kamran Arshad to ensure the textile industry resumes regular payment of the cotton cess starting January 2025. Chairman Arshad committed to compliance, a move welcomed by the forum.

Representatives from the Pakistan Kissan Ittehad, including Khalid Khokhar, and Syed Nadeem Shah, Vice President of the Sindh Abadgar Board, emphasized the urgent need to resolve the cotton cess dispute.

They also called for the immediate disbursement of salaries and pensions to PCCC scientists and increased funding for cotton research and development.

The meeting further recommended announcing a support price for cotton to support the sector’s revival. A representative from the Textile Commissioner’s Office also updated participants on an initiative with the Ministry of Commerce and FBR aimed at improving cotton traceability, helping to address data discrepancies in domestic cotton production.

Khalid Khokhar, Vice President of PCCC, stressed that the non-payment of the cotton cess has significantly contributed to the decline in cotton production.

He also highlighted the negative impact of 66 legal cases filed by the textile industry against the PCCC, which have hindered research activities. He called for resolving these cases through dialogue to focus fully on research and development.

Farmer representatives from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa also called for prompt action by the Federal Government to release overdue salaries of PCCC scientists, ensuring the continuation of vital cotton-related activities.

Dr. Zafar further informed the meeting about the upcoming visit of ICAC Chief Dr. Eric, scheduled for February 2-8, 2025. Dr. Eric will meet with stakeholders and offer ICAC’s full support for Pakistan’s cotton revival efforts.

The Federal Minister appreciated the announcement of a National Cotton Revival Conference by PCCC, scheduled for February 3, 2025. He encouraged other provinces to hold similar initiatives and assured the government’s commitment to regular meetings aimed at advancing cotton sector reforms and development.