Pakistan but to determine on lifting of ban on cotton import from India

Pakistan’s Finance Minister Miftah Ismail on Wednesday mentioned that the nation’s textile sector had demanded lifting of a ban on the import of cotton from India, however the authorities has to this point not taken any determination on the difficulty.

Addressing a press convention together with Defence Minister Khawaja Asif right here, Ismail talked concerning the injury precipitated to the cotton crop because of devastating floods which have affected greater than 33 million individuals, inundated a 3rd of the nation and precipitated losses of greater than USD 10 billion.

Replying to a query with respect to commerce with India, the minister mentioned that the All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA) was asking the federal authorities to permit import of cotton from India.

“The government has not taken any decision yet,” he mentioned, with out elaborating when such a call could possibly be taken.

Pakistan suspended commerce with India after the latter revoked the particular standing of Jammu and Kashmir in August 2019. But the ban is hurting the crisis-hit nation within the wake floods which precipitated shortage of commodities and pushed up costs.

ALSO READ| Flood-ravaged Pakistan could import tomato, onion from India amid surge in costs

When the nation confronted scarcity of onions and tomatoes because of destruction of the crops, Ismail was the primary to drop a touch concerning the possibility of importing the 2 gadgets from India. However, Ismail later mentioned that the federal government will seek the advice of coalition companions on the difficulty, after criticism from the Opposition over the plan within the wake of strained ties with New Delhi over the Kashmir challenge.

Pakistan allowed import of the 2 gadgets from Iran and Afghanistan.

Ismail mentioned that greens equivalent to tomatoes and onion had been being imported from Afghanistan and if the market will get secure with this import, the federal government wouldn’t have to import the commodities from India.

The challenge of cotton and the demand by the highly effective textile foyer is kind of completely different from the import of onions and tomatoes as a result of textile is the spine nation’s exporters which Pakistan has been attempting to extend.

The finance minister additionally talked concerning the hike in electrical energy and petroleum costs for which he blamed the insurance policies of the earlier authorities of Imran Khan however hinted at slowing down the inflation fee from subsequent month.

“The nation would have to bear the higher rates for one more month,” he mentioned.

ALSO READ| Pakistan floods declare 1,290 lives, displace over 6.3 lakhs: WHO

He additionally blamed Khan for not following the dedication made with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) particularly with reference to subsidies on electrical energy, fuel and petroleum merchandise.

The finance minister mentioned that the earlier authorities had dedicated to the IMF that the federal government wouldn’t give any amnesty to the businessmen and subsidies on petroleum, fuel and electrical energy however going towards the dedication, the PTI authorities provided amnesty in February 2022.

“This was the reason why the rates of electricity and petroleum products have skyrocketed now,” he mentioned.

— ENDS —