LAHORE: Pakistan has suspended import of Indian raw cotton since April after completion of quota of 500, 000 bales but a huge quantity of Indian raw cotton is still lying at Wagah border.
According to sources of Customs Today after completion of settled quota for import of Indian cotton, the Pakistani businessmen imported 25,000 bales and are still waiting for clearance at Land Freight Unit Wagah. Due to lack of any decision by the Ministry of Commerce, hot weather and rainy season could destroy cotton and Customs will also be deprived of a big revenue.
Meanwhile, on the other hand All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (Aptma) Chairman Tariq Saud has called on the government to take urgent measures to arrest the decline in the size of domestic cotton crop and immediately remove the 3 percent import duty on raw cotton.
He also pointed out that thousands of bales were stuck at the Wagah border for which the millers had made payments, but the government could not settle the issue. He urged the government to immediately order the release of this cotton that had entered Pakistani territory.
The Aptma chairman underlined the importance of keeping the free trade regime intact and free from all interferences as it was expected that Pakistan would continue to meet its requirements from the import of cotton.
