They said that there was no justification for lifting an 'undeclared' ban on imports of ginned cotton from India at the cost of local grower, fibre's imports on future incoming shipments via surface or sea is not in the interest of our economy .They stressed the need for continuation of ban on the imports from India on hold through Wahga and Karachi port.
"Farmers have also expressed concern over lifting of ban on the import of cotton from India by the government. The growers fear bleak prospects for domestic cotton after the lifting of ban on cotton import and demanded the government ensure procurement of crop from them on reasonable rates.
The growers said the government did not fix the support price for cotton, leaving them at the mercy of textile millers, who would procure domestic cotton at their desired rates. The growers said that they were expecting a bumper crop this year and import from India would destroy the local cotton growers. The PCGA leaders expressed concern on the import of cotton from India at this stage when the country has unsold stock of 2 million bales and more than 0.7 million bales are expected during next month.
Haji Muhammad Akram Chairman of Ginners group urged the government to impose complete ban on cotton imports from India via Wagah Border, as it was detrimental to the interest of cotton growers of the country.
"The PCGA leaders strongly feel that imports of cotton lint from India via Wagah is detrimental to the interests of the cotton growers and should be immediately stopped." He expressed concern that if the imports of cotton lint continued, it would affect the cotton production in the country during next season, adding that last year cotton production declined 30 percent, so if appropriate measures are not taken, the position would deteriorate and affect the production.
He said that the ginneries and Trading Corporation of Pakistan (TCP) had sufficient stock of cotton lint available so there was no justification to import the commodity from India. National Food Security and Research (NFS&R) Minister Sikandar Hayat Khan Bosan fully endorsed the view that the import of cotton lint form India through Wagah Border should immediately stopped. Shehzad Ali Khan Ex-Chairman of the PCGA said that as many as 5,30,000 bales of cotton had been imported from India thorough Wagah so far.
They eulogised the efforts of federal Minister Sikandar Hayat Khan Bosan who was endeavouring to reduce the cost of productions. He was of the view that cost of production was much more than the prices the farmers are getting for their crops. He termed the high cost of production as one of the reasons of decline in cotton production.