ISLAMABAD: The Senate Standing Committee on Commerce and Textile has called upon the government to take tangible steps and formulate policies aimed at boosting the textile sector of the country.
The committee expressed concern over the decreasing trend of the cotton crop and demanded immediate intervention from the government to incentivize the cotton growing sector and introduce modern seeds with better results.
The meeting was presided over by its Chairman Senator Syed Shibli Faraz at the Parliament House on Wednesday and was briefed by the textile division on the overall performance of the textile sector.
Members of the Committee expressed concern over the decreasing trend of the Cotton crop and demanded immediate intervention from the government to incentivise the cotton growing sector and introduce modern seeds with better results.
Chairman of the Committee remarked that level playing field needs to be provided to the textile sector as it is being considered as the backbone of the country’s economy and contributing the exports. Senator Shibli Faraz said that there huge scope for Research and development and a clear cut vision needs to be adopted to make with proper mechanisms to produce results and achieve goals.
Senator Usman Khan Kakar observed that excessive use of pesticides and reliance on low quality seeds have affected the crop production and compromised quality of the product. “Quality seeds should be introduced for better results” he remarked.
Experts from the Textile sector apprised the committee about the overall situation of textile sector. It was informed that Pakistan is the 4th largest producer of cotton. They informed that a major slump was witnessed in production of cotton crop during the last two years.
However, the government has taken initiatives to address this challenge and during this year production of 12.6 million bales is expected. The ministry also informed the committee about the new projects being taken to revive the sector.
The Committee decided to further deliberate on the issues relating to textile sector. The committee also recommended to the textile division to improve infrastructure of the sector and bring dynamism for competing in the international markets.
The meeting was attended among others by Senators Ilyas Ahmed Bilour and Muhammad Usman Khan Kakar. Minister for Commerce and Textile and the State Minister for Commerce and Textile besides officials concerned of the relevant departments were also present in the meeting.
