pakistan

Encouraging cotton growing helps excel textile industry’

Published

1 year ago

February 14, 2023

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Encouraging cotton growing helps excel textile industry'

With the country faces severe economic crunch, the government is mulling multiple options for economic revival including boosting exports to strengthen depleting foreign exchange reserves and generate employment opportunities to overcome growing poverty.

As textile industry had been the key player in exports over the decades, paying special heed to this sector by providing congenial environment could pave the way to capture more international markets and earn revenue.

Enhanced cotton growing is of vital importance for this sector as it encompasses a bigger chain of operations from farming to textiles mills and then to end users’ products showcased at fashion apparel outlets.

This chain of operations not only benefits industrialists but also a major chunk of our populace linked to agricultural sector. But unfortunately, cotton growing diminished with the passage of time after installation of Sugar Mills in cotton growing areas, especially in South Punjab and Sindh provinces.

Pakistan Cotton Ginners Association (PCGA), in its recent fortnightly report on cotton arrivals has put the production figure at 4.7 million bales till Feb 1, 2023 that is almost 35 per cent below than last year.

“If we reach five million bales this year by end of next month, it would be around 50 per cent below than the official production assessment of 11 million bales for 2023”, informed PCGA Chairman Chaudhry Waheed Arshad.

“If we have to survive with our textile industry, we must frame result oriented policies focusing both the farmers and the industrialists,” he stated.

Chaudhry Waheed Arshad recommended measures like announcing support price, declaring specific cotton zones, introducing high yielding, climate smart and pests resistant cotton varieties and mechanized farming techniques to get desired results.

“Agriculture is our mainstay and cotton is our lifeline. Therefore, strengthening this sector and announcing special incentives for cotton growers would definitely improve economic growth and the country’s exports,” he stated.

Chaudhry Waheed said that less cotton growing was harming ginning industry because if produce is less then mill owners can import cotton for their needs but what about ginners. “There are 1300 ginning factories countrywide with only 400-500 units remaining operational normally. But, at present only 154 factories are working.”

He claimed that the country has lost 2.4 million acre cotton area to other crops during last 15 years and “if this trend continues, it would be a severe blow to the cotton-based industries. Therefore, we need to employ full potential of this sector.”

He was confident sooner or later agriculture sector would attain the status of an industry and farmers must be well prepared to harvest its benefits.

According to the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP), Pakistan is the 8th largest exporter of textile products in Asia with 4th largest producer and third largest consumer of cotton. Textile is 46 percent of Pakistan’s total manufacturing sector that provides employment to 40 percent of total labor force.

Khawaja Usman, a noted industrialist owning spinning units has said that usually, textile sector needs 16 million cotton bales annually to add value and export a variety of products to international market.

“However, the temporary closure of some textile units due to the global recession troubled the economy.

Therefore, local textile sector requirements would revolve around 12-13 million bales this year,” he predicted.
He said if production finally turns out to be five million bales in 2023, textile sector would need to import seven million bales to meet its requirements. “Therefore, the textile sector had already finalized contracts for import of required cotton bales.”

Khawaja Usman stressed to incentivize the farmers to grow cotton on more area, and the industry to enable it to compete in international market as he regretted that falling of cotton production by 16 percent to merely 8.6 million bales in 2020 from 10.2 million bales in 2019, is not encouraging.

The TDAP officials quoting Pakistan Bureau of Statistics data have also revealed that Pakistan earned over US$15 billion (15400 million dollars) in financial year 2021 up from over US$ 12.5 billion (12526 million dollars) in 2020 from cotton and textile products. According to their statistics although exports of various textile products registered increase, yet export of raw cotton nosedived by 95 percent in FY 2021with the main factor being lower production than expectations.

Vice President, Multan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Asim Saeed Sheikh has also claimed that local cotton production was usually falling short to meet the needs of the textile sector, except for 2011 when Pakistan touched the highest mark of 14.7 million bales.

“Many of cotton growing farmers shifted to sugarcane crop over the years resulting in diminishing produce. Above this, we also witnessed torrential rains and flooding this year that swept away large cotton areas,” he said. “This would obviously prove to be a major challenge for cotton growers and allied industries.”

According to a climate change research, poor seed quality, heat waves, virus, pests and increasing trend of farmers to switching to other profitable crops for some quick profits reduced cotton production.

Therefore, it is high time to fully concentrate this segment of the economy to steer the country out of the economic crunch, boost exports and earn foreign exchange to bridge trade and current account deficits

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pakistan

PML-N’s victory margin in by-polls is bigger than that of general elections

Published

2 days ago

April 23, 2024

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PML-N's victory margin in by-polls is bigger than that of general elections

Stats show that the candidates of Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) and its allies have won their seats in by-polls with a bigger margin than in general elections in Lahore and Kasur.

It is not a new thing that PML-N and its allies have won in Lahore and Kasur because they have retained the seats which they had left.

But the lead they got against their runners-up is bigger than the lead its previous winners had got in general elections is really a thing for their leaders and workers to relish, particularly in the scenario where their political opponents are taking out countrywide rallies on the topic that their mandate was stolen in general elections.

Let’s have a look on fasts

In NA-119 Lahore-III, Maryam Nawaz won with the lead of 15,479 in general elections whereas in by-polls PML-N candidate Ali Pervaiz Malik defeated his rival Shehzad Farooq with the margin 26, 889.

NA-132 Kasur-II Shehbaz Sharif had defeated his rival Sardar Muhammad Hussain Dogar in general elections with the lead of 26,115 and in by-elections PML-N candidate Malik Rasheed Ahmad defeated his rival Muhammad Hussain Dogar with the lead of 55,869.

In PP-147, Hamza Shehbaz Sharif of PML-N defeated PTI-backed candidate Muhammad Khan Madani with the lead of 5,339 in by-elections and PML-N candidate Malik Riaz defeated his rival Muhammad Khan Madani in by-polls with the lead of 15,293.

In PP-149, Aleem Khan of IPP defeated his rival PTI-backed candidate Zeeshan Rasheed with the margin of 3,758 in general elections and in by-elections IPP candidate Shoaib Siddiqui defeated his opponent SIC candidate Zeeshan Rasheed with the lead of 21,522.

In PP-64, Shehbaz Sharif of PML-N defeated his opponent PTI-backed candidate Muhammad Yousaf with the margin of 1,180 in general elections whereas PLM-N candidate Rashid Minhas defeated his SIC candidate Muhammad Yousaf with the margin of 5,718 votes in by-polls.

PP-158 is the only constituency in by-polls where the winning margin of PML-N candidate is a bit less. In this constituency, in general elections PML-N Shehbaz Sharif had defeated his rival PTI-backed candidate Yousaf Ali with a margin of 14,795, but in by-polls PML-N candidate Muhammad Nawaz defeated SIC candidate Moonis Elahi with the margin of 12,147 votes.

PML-N leadership links this victory to their economic policies, especially to the initiatives taken by Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz such as Ramazan Nigehban Package and reduction in roti and naan prices.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in a statement had said PML-N got landslide victory in by-polls due to the vibrant economic policies of the government.

PML-N leader Atta Tarar had said people have rejected PTI’s politics of ‘confrontation’ and trusted the government and acknowledged its people-friendly steps.

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz taking to social media congratulated the party workers and said PML-N is the true representative of the people of Pakistan.

She said the result of by-polls has rejected the PTI claims that the elections were rigged.

On the other hand, Sunni Itehad Council (SIC), a merger of PIT, could not garner public support in by-polls as its candidates had in general elections.

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pakistan

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi lauds Pakistan’s stance on war-torn Gaza

Published

2 days ago

April 23, 2024

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Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi lauds Pakistan's stance on war-torn Gaza

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi arrived at the Allama Iqbal International Airport from Islamabad here on Tuesday morning.

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz welcomed the Iranian president as he touched down at Lahore airport. Senior Provincial Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb and Information Minister Azma Zahid Bokhari was also present.

Provincial ministers Mujtaba Shujaur Rehman, Khawaja Salman Rafique, Chaudhry Shafey Hussain, Bilal Yasin, the chief secretary and IG Punjab were also in attendance. A smartly turned out contingent of Punjab Rangers presented guard of honour to President Raisi.

City roads have been decorated with welcome banners and hoardings on arrival of Iranian President. President Raisi, after landing in Lahore, went straight to Mazar-e-Iqbal and laid floral wreath on the grave of Poet of the East Allama Muhammad Iqbal.

Lauds Pakistan’s stance on Gaza

The Iranian president lauded Pakistan’s support for Gaza and its people amid relentless atrocities by Israel.

He said Allama Iqbal showed a new path to the Muslims the world over. As for Gaza war, he said the supreme leader was of firm opinion that the people of Palestine would emerge victorious in the fight and Israel would face defeat.

He said he was thoroughly enjoying his visit to Pakistan and he was feeling at home. He said he wanted to address the people of Pakistan.

During his visit to Lahore, the Iranian president will also visit Minar-e-Pakistan, Badshahi Masjid and Lahore Fort. A lunch will be organised by the chief minister in honour of the Iranian president at the Governor House.

The foreign dignitary will leave for Karachi after meeting Punjab Governor Balighur Rehman. He will be received by Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah upon reaching Karachi. Raisi will go to Mazar-e-Quaid in Karachi and later meet business community.

Local holiday

Provincial governments of Punjab and Sindh have declared local holidays in Lahore and Karachi on the occasion of Iranian president’s visit to both capital cities.

According to the administration’s notification, public and private schools, colleges and universities will remain closed today. Public and private offices will also remain closed on the occasion.

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pakistan

Knowledge without ethics has no value, says Iran president’s wife Dr Jamileh

Published

2 days ago

April 23, 2024

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Knowledge without ethics has no value, says Iran president's wife Dr Jamileh

Dr Jamileh-Sadat Alamolhoda, wife of the Iranian President, on Monday said that Islam had enlightened the whole world by highlighting important of knowledge 1400 years ago.

“Knowledge without ethics has no value,” she made the remarks her address at the National University of Modern Languages (NUML).

Earlier, Dr Jamileh inaugurated a cultural festival at the university. She took round of various national and international stalls showcasing different cultures and their traditions.

Rector NUML Major General (retd) Shahid Mahmood Kayani, Director General Brig Shahzad Munir, faculty members and a large number of students were present on the occasion.

Addressing the students, Dr Jamileh said that during the colonial era, religious leaders of Iran and this part of the region played a significant role in keeping the nations united.

She admired the role of Poet of the East Muhammad Iqbal in spreading the Islamic message of knowledge and ethics through his poetry.

She also spoke at the launch of her own book “The Art of Living Femininely”, which, she said, was being translated into Urdu as well.

She praised NUML’s role in knowledge production and dissemination and also desired to explore the possibilities of mutual academic collaboration in the field of science and technology and languages.

Dr Jamileh thanked the NUML administration for a warm welcome and on providing her an opportunity to interact with the students and faculty.

Speaking on the occasion, the Rector NUML said that Pakistan and Iran enjoyed historic, brotherly, and mutually trusted bilateral relations, and they also had deep-rooted people-to-people ties.

The honourable guest was conferred on an honorary PhD degree in educational sciences by the NUML Rector.

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