President Asif Ali Zardari will shortly promulgate an ordinance to introduce the sowing of Bt cotton with a view to increase crop yield to cater to the textile sector's needs, said Textile Minister Muhammad Farooq Saeed Khan on Thursday night. Speaking at a dinner reception hosted by the Council of All Pakistan Textile Associations (Capta) at PHMA House.
He announced that sowing of the newly introduced genetically evolved seeds of Bt cotton would be started from next year. Dispelling the impression, he said that the government would implement the country's maiden textile policy to achieve the set target of $25 billion in five years, and added that a Cabinet committee in this connection has been formed to remove hindrances.
"The government will provide us [textile ministry] Rs 42 billion to carry out the task of textile boost as we have got assurances prior to announcing the first textile policy," he told the textile manufacturers-cum-exporters. However, he made it clear that boost in textile trade with EU and US would be the primary responsibility of textile exporters after the announcement of textile policy.
He added that a roadmap, in consultation with textile sector, would be drawn up to compete with the country's rivals in world markets to subdue them with quality products. The minister regretted that the world markets have imposed non-tariff barriers on the country's textile products because they are afraid of being driven out of their home markets, and said that their concerns would be removed so that trade could grow rapidly.
He urged the stakeholders to undertake a lobbying-drive for promotion of the country's textile products in the global markets so that products from countries like India, China, Bangladesh, Vietnam, etc, could be replaced with Pakistan-made products.
He said that growth in the Bangladesh textile sector was in fact indebted to the Pakistani executors of their industry who left their own country for want of facilities at home. He expressed belief that they would return to their country when better working environment is established here. About the cross-subsidy to fertiliser sector, he said that every manufacturing sector of the country should bear its financial burden and added that such anti-textile subsidy should end forthwith.
"The fertiliser sector has never passed on the benefits to the growers out of resources and facilities which the government has been giving it since long. On the contrary, we continue to hear price hike of fertilisers every other day. And, why should textile sector bear its burden through a cross-subsidy?" he questioned.
Farooq lauded President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, Finance Minister Shaukat Tarin and Textile Secretary Dr Waqar Masood for their support and efforts in evolving and introducing the country's first textile policy. Earlier, Advisor to Sindh CM Zubair Motiwala, who is also chairman of Capta and co-ordinator of Capta, lauded the efforts of the textile minister for introducing a textile policy. Later, Capta gave away shields and a gold medal to the minister at a ceremony.
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