ISLAMABAD: A meeting of the Standing Committee on National Food Security and Research was informed on Monday that the Pakistan Central Cotton Committee (PCCC) has been facing financial constraints as the committee members said increase in cotton production was important for exports.

The meeting of the Standing Committee presided over by Rao Muhammad Ajmal Khan was given briefing by the PCCC commissioner regarding issues of the PCCC.

He informed the meeting that there was poor financial condition in the department, and 10 percent increase of pay and pensions were not paid to the employees and the retired persons.

Land lease issues of the CCRI Multan, building rent issue of the PICRT Karachi, and ownership issue of CRS Sahiwal and Bahawalpur have also been laced to the department.

The meeting was further informed that the scientists and technical people had not been promoted since long, and there was also an issue of different posts which were lying vacant since long.

The representative of the cotton breeding program briefed the Committee regarding the cotton breeding, and informed the committee, regarding conversion of agriculture tube well on solar energy, and subsidy announcement for farmers 30 days prior to crop sowing.

The meeting was briefed on the corporate and cooperative farming, and told the committee that the new cotton growing areas (Potohar and others) be promoted in the climate change scenario.

He suggested that the State Bank should provide loans to agri-research and seed production companies like provided to Renewable Energy, Naya Pakistan Housing Scheme and Kamyab Jawan and added that the payoff period in Special Economic Zone (SEZ) of land be doubled for agri industries.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2021