ISLAMABAD, Sept 3: The government has decided to hire multinational companies for marking of grade and staple on each bale of cotton to obtain contamination free cotton from growers and ginning industry as part of clean cotton programme.
Federal Minister for Textile Mushtaq Ali Cheema told Dawn on Saturday that the programme was aimed at upgrading the status and value of raw cotton and its products in international market.
He said that an amendment to this effect would be made in Cotton Control Ordinance 1966 to allow marking of grade and staple on each bale of cotton.
He said that the multinational companies would determine standards for certification of cotton, and the price of the cotton would be fixed according to the cotton standard, which is international practice, he added.
The minister said that during the recent meeting of the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) chaired by Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz it was decided that growers of clean cotton would be ensured due prices in future.
He said that it was decided that Trading Corporation of Pakistan (TCP) would purchase the clean cotton from growers if the price of clean cotton was lower in domestic market.
After the purchase of clean cotton from growers, the TCP would be allowed to export the cotton.
Moreover, the ginning factories would now register themselves with the TCP on honorary basis.
Replying to a question, the minister said that government had already approved an amount of Rs1.2 billion for purchase of clean cotton from the growers.
The minister said that during the current fiscal year the use of cotton would increase manifold due to expansion in the textile industries. He said that government was trying to produce clean cotton in the range of around 20-25 per cent in the first phase, which would be increased.
Replying to a question, the minister said that ginning factories would pay to multinational companies for marking on bales.
However, he said that it would be ensured that all ginning factories must have updated machinery for handling of cotton and would have a proper place for keeping the cotton.
It was also decided that every ginning factory must appoint cotton selector to purchase clean and best quality cotton from growers. In this connection, Pakistan Cotton Standard Institute has provided training to 1500 persons from private sector, and this practice would continue, he said.
He said that his ministry had already started a campaign to encourage cotton growers and the ginners for producing contamination-free cotton by bringing down the contamination level.
