NA body concerned cotton farmers getting low prices

Staff Report

ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly’s standing committee on government assurances on Wednesday expressed concern that cotton growers were reportedly being paid rates lower than those fixed by the government.

The committee observed that slow purchases made by the Trading Corporation of Pakistan (TCP) meant that growers were not getting appropriate prices for their cotton. It directed the TCP to improve its performance to solve the problems facing growers and to intervene in order to stabilise the cotton price. It recommended the opening of cotton procurement centers in all cotton growing districts.

The committee constituted a three-member sub-committee to coordinate with the Food and Agriculture Ministry to ensure the payment of appropriate rates for cotton. The meeting was presided over by Haji Khuda Bux Nizamani.

The committee met to discuss the assurances given by the government on the floor of the house regarding the price that could be paid to cotton growers.

The secretary for food and agriculture informed the committee that the government had allocated Rs 10 billion to TCP to purchase an unlimited number of cotton bales.

The sub-committee will consist of parliamentarians Sardar Bahadur Ahmad Khan Sihar, Azhar Ahmed Khan Yousafzai and Syed Zafar Ali Shah.

Among those who attended the meeting were Dr Sher Afgan Khan Niazi, minister for parliamentary affairs, parliamentarians Sher Akbar Khan, Syed Zafar Ali Shah, Azhar Ahmad Khan Yousufzai, Malik Liaquat Ali Dogar and Maulvi Muhammad Sadiq.

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