ISLAMABAD - Senate Standing Committee on National Food Security and Research has recommended restoring old mechanism for cotton import and imposing regulatory duty on its import from India.
The committee meeting was chaired by its chairman Senator Syed Muzafer Hussain Shah, who also stressed the need for taking measures to protect the local market and provide level playing field to the local farmers.
On the occasion, Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research urged for the protection of local market and improve the coordination between the Ministry of National Food Security and Ministry of Commerce including all stakeholders to evolve the mechanism for import of cotton and other relevant commodities.
The minister said that Trading Corporation of Pakistan has high quality, staple cotton adding: “We have no need to import cotton from any other country”.
On the occasion, official from Pakistan Agriculture Storage and Services Corporation (PASSCO) briefed the committee on procurement of wheat by the food departments of governments of Punjab and Sindh. He said that Punjab province has shortfall in wheat procurement, adding that 8,75000 tons target was set for procurement in province and achievement was 6, 64000 tons.
The committee also called for making coordinated efforts to give support to the farmers for growth of agriculture sector in the country.
Senator Mushahid Ullah Khan, John Kenneth Williams, and Muhammad Mohsin Khan Leghari and official from different ministries and departments also attended the meeting.
