I HAVE seen the heyday of the Pakistan Central Cotton Committee (PCCC) when it funded cotton research even in the former East Pakistan before Bangladesh came into being.

It has not only lost its location on M.T. Khan Road, Karachi, but the tempo of research work also seems to be declining, due to future organisational uncertainties and frequent shifting from one rented building to another.

The PCCC was previously under the aegis of the ministry of food, agriculture and livestock, but is now working under ministry of the textile industry, which is trying to boost cotton production in the country, and the All Pakistan Textile Mills Association is playing its role.

Aptma may perhaps like to recall that in July 20 it assured through an advertisement (Dawn) of its commitment to upgrade the PCCC research institutes into centres of excellence through stakeholders and management of the PCCC.

It has reiterated now its commitment to pay more money under the cotton cess generating Rs600 to Rs800 million for boosting cotton production from making lofty plans.

No research can give fruitful results if it suffers from financial crunch and the working staff gets no monthly pay on time. For every production, factors of production are indispensable. Money alone is not enough to boost production.

All research divisions are to be kept under one roof and the PCCC headquarters are not shifted from Karachi, which is the most conducive location for cotton research, because of its costal climate.

While Aptma is lauded for its timely action, it has also to ensure that the PCCC first gets its own building at the earliest opportunity for permanent rehabilitation; the research staff is given timely salaries and pensioners are not considered a burden.

The PCCC is not the only organisation to give pension to retirees; it is given by all other government departments as an old-age benefit to their retired hands. So let the matter of pay and pension not take an ugly turn.

The ministry of textile industry is controlling the PCCC, it is for them to look after the welfare of PCCC employees and pensioners. Realisation of cess at its revised rate at Rs50 per bale be also ensured by the ministry of textile industry to generate funds for the PCCC as it survives only on cess money.

Further, the PCCC is mandated cotton research by the multi-disciplinary approach and the production of cotton is the function of provincial governments.

M. SHAFIQUE AHMED Karachi