Annual General Meeting of Pakistan Cotton Ginners Association (PCGA) held here on Wednesday under the chairmanship of Suhail Mehmood Haral. Only 10 members attended the meeting. A number of PCGA members bitterly criticised the unfair inclusion of ginneries in Clean Cotton programme and obliging the 'haves" and neglecting the "have nots".
Shahid Farooq Puri President Indo-Pak Ginners Association distributed the pamphlets among the members in which he alleged that a group headed by Shaikh Muhammad Saeed ruled the PCGA for five years unlawfully and no elections were held during this span of half decade. At last Director Trade Organisations (DTO) got vacated the occupation of "Qabza Group". An inquiry report was prepared showing an embezzlement of Rs 4.8 million in the construction of PCGA building in Multan.
When PCGA put on the right track, a number of cotton testing laboratories were established and process of Cotton ginning institute began. Registration of brokers, constitution of reconciliatory committees with APTA were formed and funds were spent according to the provision of memorandum during 2000 to 2006.
But in 2007 the situation, once again, deteriorated when elected chairman provided an opportunity to the "Qabza Group" for running affairs of the organisation. Though General Body or Central body cannot enhance the annual membership fee without the prior permission of DTO yet PCGA was receiving Rs 6000 per member (while DTO had allowed only Rs 3000) In spite of clear instruction of the Director Trade Organisations, excessively received amount was not repaid.
Now PCGA is liable to repay Rs 21 million to its 1200 members. The pamphlet further revealed that Qabza group had framed a fresh memorandum to get fresh registration, which was neither approved by the central body nor by general body.