The special committee on agricultural products of Pakistan’s National Assembly (NA) recently decided to introduce a resolution to consider placing import duty of 10-15 per cent on cotton. A meeting chaired by assembly speaker Asad Qaiser instructed authorities to determine the feasibility of the suggested increase in import duty, which is zero at present.
The meeting also expressed concern over the Rs 2 increase in price of per unit of electricity under the fuel price adjustment and summoned the energy minister in the next meeting to discuss that, according to Pakistani media reports.The special committee on agricultural products of Pakistan's National Assembly (NA) recently decided to introduce a resolution to consider placing import duty of 10-15 per cent on cotton. A meeting chaired by assembly speaker Asad Qaiser instructed authorities to determine the feasibility of the suggested increase in import duty, which is zero at present.#
Pakistan is a net importer of cotton, importing primarily from the United States, India and Brazil. The import of cotton the previous year amounted to $1 billion. While the production of cotton in India increased by 150 per cent, it did not rise in Pakistan due to which cotton cannot be exported, the trade secretary informed the meeting.
Khalid Khokhar, a representative of a farmers’ collective, said that the production cost in Pakistan is very high which skewed the situation in favour of the All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA) while resulting in losses for farmers.
Cotton Commissioner Khalid Abdullah said that the production area of cotton has declined from 770,000 hectare to 400,000 hectare.
The committee also summoned APTMA representatives in the next meeting to discuss the issue of cotton. (DS)
ALCHEMPro News Desk – India
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