MULTAN: Former National Assembly speaker Syed Fakhar Imam has said that All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (Aptma) is paying more on importing cotton from India.

Through a press release issued here on Thursday, the former speaker said cotton (lint) being imported from India was costing 75 cent per pound which is equal to Rs6,200 per maund (37.3 kilo).

“The rate of cotton lint being bought in Pakistan now is Rs5,200 to Rs5400 per maund. It is a well-known fact that in India agriculture crops are heavily subsided while in Pakistan general sales tax is imposed on most of the inputs, resulting in losses to growers,” he said.

The former speaker said a few days back the federal government had announced that the Trading Corporation of Pakistan (TCP) would purchase one million bales at Rs3,000 per maund.

“So far the TCP has not purchased any cotton and no schedule or mechanism announced to meet the target,” he said.

Fakhar said the cotton growing community was agitating in different areas, demanding that the government fulfil its promise.

Published in Dawn, October 24th, 2014