June 03, 2008	Tuesday	Jamadi-ul-Awwal 28, 1429

MULTAN, June 2: A local business group comprising Pakistani and Chinese scientists has launched a research project to evolve a hybrid Bt cotton variety.

Shahzad Ali Malik, director marketing of the Guard Group, speaking at a ceremony in Multan said that his company would carry out demand-based research on cotton to evolve varieties that meet the requirements of the textile industry.

He said the textile sector still imports seeds with qualities like long staple lint, while hybrid Bt cotton being developed by the group will meet all requirements and will be pest-resistant to solve the problem affecting cotton growers since decades.

He paid rich tributes to late Dr. Abdul Majeed, who developed the Guard basmati rice variety, and the efforts of his father late Muhammad Shafi Malik in this regard.

Mr. Shahzad said that the rice was being exported to 38 countries and has helped elevate rice export earnings to $700 million per annum. He expressed the hope that the hybrid Bt cotton variety will bring about a positive change in cotton economy.

He said the seed was expected to give double the per acre cotton yield the progressive growers are getting these days from other varieties, adding that the company’s cotton research and breeding centre has been operational in Multan since a year to develop the hybrid Bt cotton variety.—APP