ISLAMABAD: Number of countries importing Pakistani textile products has crossed the figure of 100, Customs Today learnt.
It is a fact that textile sector plays a crucial role in the uplift of socio-economical development of the country as textile exports make up 52% of total exports worth $12.36 billion.
Pakistan Textile Exporters Association (PTEA), Pakistan Readymade Garments Manufacturers and Exporters’ Association (PRGMEA), All Pakistan Textile Processing Mills Association (APTPMA) and other organisations are playing their due role in increasing the volume of textile exports.
“Number of countries importing Pakistani textile products has gone higher than the figure one hundred,” a source privy to the commerce minister told Customs Today. He added that a majority of Pakistani textile products, including cotton, cotton yarn, cotton cloth, articles of apparel and cloth, art silk and synthetic textile, tents and other canvas goods, bed wear and towels and knitwear) were very much liked abroad.
The source said that the Commerce Ministry had been staunch advocate for growing genetically modified variety of cotton to increase the quantity of the cotton in the country.
“BT cotton is genetically modified variety of cotton which producing an insecticide,” the source said, adding that resultantly at present BT cotton was being produced at 82.65% and 83.23% to total cotton cultivated area in Punjab and Sindh respectively.
The source said that the government had taken following steps to certify BT cotton seed to get fine quality of cotton, including cotton seed production plan for cotton crop 2015 with main focus on BT cotton as varieties was prepared in collaboration with public and private seed sectors as well as government institutes.
Moreover, the source said that a committee was formed to monitor the progress on achievements in line with the cotton seed production plan 2015 on fortnightly basis and a brochure on improving germination of cotton seed including BT cotton seed was prepared and circulated among seed corporations /companies and cotton seed growers.
Similarly, the source added that Sindh Seed Council released Bt cotton varieties namely; MNH- 886 and FH-142 in last month to promote certified seed production of these Bt cotton varieties in Sindh Province.
“A training programme on quality cotton seed production was organized at FSC&RD Lab: Khanewal in September, 2014 to increase professional capacity for certification of BT cotton seed,” he added.
