by Zafar Hussain

 

BEIJING, Feb. 10 (China Economic Net) – Pakistan has a stable textile industry. It plays a vital role in the economic growth of the country and exports a massive quantity of cotton yarn to China, said Badar uz Zaman, Commercial Counsellor, Embassy of of Pakistan in Beijing.

 

Badar U Zaman said that cotton is very important for Pakistan, and previously, Pakistan produced more than 13 to 14 million bales of cotton. 

"Pakistan has a strong requirement of better varieties of cotton, which can give us good yields. Similarly, we are very good at cotton yarn manufacturing. We export a huge quantity of cotton yarn to China. For example, in 2013, we touched up to $1.6 billion worth of exports of cotton yarn to China," he added.

 

He further said that there is a reduction in cotton yarn exports in recent years. Now the numbers are around $400 million, and the reason is that Pakistani textile exports are increasing.

 

"In these years, there is a strong domestic demand for cotton yarn. The use is taking place domestically. There is less available for exports to China. But we have a solid history of growing cotton, and we will increase our production," he said. 

 

A few days ago, Pakistan’s Minister for National Food Security and Research Syed Fakhar Imam proclaimed that the government would provide subsidies to farmers on pesticide, seed and fertilisers. They are working on the capacity of production, seed traceability and germination to facilitate the farmers to increase cotton production, adding that Pakistan has already started working with China to get agriculture technology and genetic engineering.

 

Badar expressed that federal and all local governments are adopting the BT cotton cultivation. And ministries are approving BT cotton varieties for improving their per hectare yield, which shows a strong desire to adopt new technologies.

 

"We also need strong supports from China on irrigation techniques on the optimal use of water, and various advanced techniques of swing. In Pakistan, a lot of labour are involved in picking the cotton. while in China, the picking process is automation. So these kinds of technologies are also required to enhance to capability in this field," Badar further added.

 

 He said that Pakistan is also looking for Chinese corporate farming companies that can go to Pakistan, where they can start the corporate farming based on the latest technology. It will be a win-win situation for both countries as China requires a lot of cotton yarn for its textile industry, and it will help Pakistan increase its exports.

 

"We got access of 313 items on zero duty. In the second phase of Free Trade Agreement (FTA), and in out of that there are 112 textile-related lines, which counts more than one-third. This result shows in the integration of both countries in the textile industries, that is a good step," Commercial Counsellor told CEN.

 

In recent years, Bazar said that Pakistan had increased a strong exports of hosiery products, and they are also looking forward to some Chinese textile manufacturers who can invest in hosiery and other cotton made up products because China is the biggest partner in the textile industry's value chain. Therefore, that is also one of the areas where we seek supports from our Chinese brother.