MULTAN - The Pakistan Cotton Ginners Association (PCGA) hoped that the country will succeed to produce 14 million bales during the current season, saying a total of 12.82 million bales have already arrived at the ginning factories.
Addressing a joint press conference here on Wednesday, PCGA Chairman Amanullah Qureshi, Vice Chairman (north) Mukhtar Ahmed Baloch and others alleged that the Crop Assessment Committee (CAC) was playing in the hands of All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA) as it presented wrong statistics regarding cotton production. "The motive behind showing fake statistics is to serve the interests of APTMA and fleece poor growers and ginners," they maintained. They added that cotton arrival to date had confirmed the claim of PCGA and contradicted the speculations of APTMA, KCA and PCAC.
They stressed upon the government to take notice of their appeals and direct Trading Corporation of Pakistan (TCP) to purchase one million bales of cotton dumped at the ginneries. They warned that any delay in TCP's intervention would deliver serious financial damage to the farmers, forcing them to opt for other crops than cotton in coming season. They added that the country might have to face the burden of an additional expense worth over $ 100 billion on cotton import if the farmers declined to sow this crop. They pointed out that increase in input prices and comparatively low cotton rate incurred a big loss of Rs. 24 billion on farmers while they were likely to face another Rs. 5.5 billion loss of the government failed to fix cotton support price according to international rates.
Cotton arrival picks up by 19.23 percent
Meanwhile, the PCGA has issued its fortnightly cotton arrival report that discloses that about 12.82 million cotton bales have arrived at the ginning factories till 15th January, registering 19.23 percent increase than the corresponding period last year. The ginneries had received 10.76 million bales of cotton till January 15 last year.
The ginning factories have so far sold 11.38 million bales across the country as 1,07,69,904 bales were sold to the textile units while another 6,13,014  lifted by the exporters. According to PCGA, a total of 956 ginning factories are operational in Sindh and Punjab.
The reports says that recent floods badly hit the cotton crop in the districts of Hyderabad, Nawabshah, Dadu, Mirpur Khas Sangarh and other areas of Sindh. According to details, Punjab contributed 1,03,12,714 bales compared to last year's 71,39,612 bales, showing an increase of 44.44 percent. However, the cotton production in Sindh province witnessed a 30.48 percent decline as it produced 25,16,905 bales this year compared to last year's 36,20,640 bales. Balochistan province produced 53,018 bales this year.
District-wise production data showed that Multan contributed 5,84,021 bales, Lodhran 3,92,802 bales, Khanewal 10,23,362 bales, Muzaffargarh 5,13,519 bales, Dera Ghazi Khan 3,76,937 bales, Rajanpur 4,61,467 bales, Layyah 2,75,906  bales, Vehari 9,76,198  bales, Sahiwal 6,68,340 bales, Pakpattan 3,23,180 bales, Okara 55,600 bales, Kasur 38,000 bales, Toba Tek Singh 3,60,439 bales, Faisalabad 1,26,406 bales, Jhang 2,27,532  bales, Mianwali 2,71,100 bales, Bhakkar 1,66,500 bales, Sargodha 50,560 , Rahim Yar Khan 12,59,144 bales, Bahawalpur 10,73,226 bales, and Bahawalnagar 10,88,170 bales. Sindh's district-wise production figures were: Hyderabad 1,98,641 bales, Mirpurkhas 1,60,857  bales, Sanghar 7,42,597 bales, Nawabshah 1,92,822 bales, Naushero Feroze 1,99,834, Khairpur 2,08,692 bales, Ghotki 2,85,572 bales, Sukkur 3,25,345 bales, and Dadu 42,273  bales, Jamshoro 80,622 , Badin 27,632 Balochistan added 53,018 bales to the total.