September 10, 2002	Tuesday	Rajab 2, 1423

MULTAN, Sept 9: The government has decided not to change the policy of free import and export of the silver fibre, said Commerce Minister Abdul Razak Dawood, here on Monday.

While addressing a press conference after a seminar on cotton at the Central Cotton Research Institute (CCRI) here, the minister said after taking into account the view-points of the all stakeholders - growers, ginners, exporters/importers and textile mill owners - it has been decided that the policy of free cotton import and export must remain intact.

Federal Minister for Food, Agriculture and Livestock Khair Muhammad Junejo, Punjab agriculture minister Khurshid Zaman Qureshi, Director CCRI Muhammad Islam Gill and other senior cotton researchers and agriculture officers were also present on the occasion.

Razak vehemently denied the allegation levelled by certain cotton-related segments that he was safeguarding the interests of All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (Aptma) only.

The minister said he was the custodian of the interests of all stakeholders. It is the policy of the government to secure the interests of the growers in particular. These were never compromised, he emphasised.

Razak said he will ensure that the growers and ginners, who produce contamination-free cotton, get due premium on their better and clean quality cotton. He said last year the Trading Corporation of Pakistan (TCP) paid the premium as promised.

He said the support price is fixed by the government for grade III cotton and if it is below that standard the rate will be less than that of the support price.

He stressed that our cotton fetches less price because of its contamination of many sorts. If we supply clean cotton we will definitely get better and international price.

He warned that after 2005 a free trade era will usher in the world. Our cotton can attract buyers and fetch better price only if it is clean and of long or even extra long staple.

About the marketing he said our average cotton output stands at 10.9 million bales while our textile mills’ consumption is 11.5-12 million bales. So, the demand is more than the local production. Hence, a better price is expected. Federal Agriculture Minister Khair Muhammad Junejo said that our cultivated area this year is 9 per cent less but our production may be equivalent to that of the last year. It is because of cotton-friendly weather conditions.

He said the world expected production stands at 88 million bales this year as against last year’s 98.4 million bales, which is 10.5 per cent less.—APP