MULTAN, March 4: The country has produced 12.306 million bales till March 1, 2006, said a fortnightly report issued by the Pakistan Cotton Ginners Association (PCGA) here on Saturday.

According to the report, total arrivals of cotton at the operating ginneries across the country recorded 12.306 million cotton bales compared to last year’s 14.255 million bales on the same date, showing a fall of 13 per cent.

The output in the Punjab was recorded at 9.767 million bales compared to last year’s 11.243 million bales, showing a shortfall of 13.13 per cent, while production in Sindh stood at 2.539 million bales compared to last year’s 3.012 million bales, a drop of 15.72 per cent.

Textile mill owners have so far purchased 10.495 million bales and exporters 70,900 bales. Unsold stocks of lint stood at 1.667 million bales and those of putti (seed cotton) 0.730 million bales.

The approximate rate of good quality lint in the open market stood at Rs2,575 per maund and that of phutti at Rs1125 per 40 kg.

The government’s support price for lint is Rs2,269 and for phutti Rs975 per 40 kg.—APP