A two member delegation of Pakistan Cotton Ginners Association (PCGA) led by Dr.Jesso Mal called on Senate's standing Committee on Finance and apprised them of their demands.Thecommittee listened to them patiently and assured them that their budget proposals would be entertained in letter and spirit because ginning sector was very important sector which cannot be neglected.The committee praised the efforts of PCGA for grow more cotton and to achieve the target of 20 million bales.PCGA Delegation said that Permanent and constant National Cotton Policy (NCP)be announced immediately to safeguard the interest of farmers/growers ,ginners and APTMA and a bailout backage be announced for ginning sector separately for its survival besides providing electricity on Rs.5 / unit and declaring this sector tax-free for the period of at least three years. Chairman Dr.Jesso Mal and Senior Vice Chairman Suhail Mehmood Haral said that Government should not allow sugar mills in cotton core areas of Punjab and support price for Phutti must be announced to attract the farmers. Chairman Dr.Jesso Mal stressed the need for announcement of a comprehensive and long-standing cotton policy which could protect the interest of all stake holders including grower, input supplier,ginner, spinner, weaver, power loom owner. They demanded for waiving the withholding tax on banking transactions as recommended by SBP in its budget proposals or it should not be more than 0.1 % for ginning industry as admissible for Rice and flour industry.They expressed its concern on the issuance of notices to ginners for spreading panic and said that FBR should continue implementation on 1994 agreement signed between PCGA and Federal Board of Revenue.They has asked the standing committee to curtail the discretionary powers of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), as it is creating hurdles for taxpayers by harassing them while the tax evaders remain at large.It said instead of creating problems for loyal & honest taxpayers, the FBR officers should act against tax evaders.
