Tax-free import of Indian cotton to hurt Pakistani farmers: PCGA

Tax-free import of Indian cotton to hurt Pakistani farmers: PCGA

MULTAN: Pakistan Cotton Ginners Association (PCGA) Chairman Malik Muhammad Akram Monday said tax-free import of cotton from India would hurt interests of ginners and cotton growers.

It would have negative impact on the sowing cotton crop next year, which would ultimately affect the national economy, he said while talking to media persons.

Malik Akram said unfavourable weather conditions, use of fake pesticides and unregistered seed varieties, and non-fixation of cotton support price were the reasons for low produce of the crop in the country.

He urged the government not to consider any proposal for import of cotton from India at zero sale

tax and import. He also asked the provincial governments to consult cotton ginners while finalizing the cotton policy.

Former PCGA chairman Shahzad Ali Khan, vice chairman Mian Javed Tariq and ginners group leader Talat Suhail were also present on the occasion.