Free market policy in Pakistan will continue with the government pulling itself out completely of the cotton business. It would mainly focus on regulation, says Aamer Irshad, chief of Food and Agriculture Planning Commission. While cotton will continue as an important contributor to the national economy, the private sector will be encouraged to lead innovation, bring knowledge and investment in cotton technology (value chain and varietal development), informed Irshad. He was talking at the 75th plenary meeting on the fifth day of the ICAC.
The government will further strengthen its cotton governance while its investment in cotton will focus on improving productivity and efficiency, Irshad added. He further said that cotton production was 14.2 million bales in 2004-05 it fell down to 10 million bales in 2015-16. However, he said that various policy instruments such as textiles Policy, Strategic Trade Policy Framework and Vision 2025 along with the organisations has been taken by the government for brining improvement in the sector.
He cotton would continue to be prime contributor to Pakistan's economy. The government needs to facilitate to improve yield by carrying out necessary legislation such as enactment of Plant Breeders Right Bill and by providing support to reduce the cost of doing business, he observed.
Muhammad Ilyas Sarwar of the Pakistan Central Cotton Committee Central Cotton Research Institute urged for a research on high yielding with better fibre quality cotton varieties. He said cotton trading houses should be established and make them beneficial for all stakeholders.
