MULTAN,Dec 3rd : Pakistan Cotton Ginners Association (PCGA) has issued the figures of cotton arrival upto Dec Ist,2017. Seed cotton (Phutti) equivalent to over 1,01,32,074 bales of cotton have reached ginneries across Pakistan as of December Ist,2017,showing an increase of 3.62 per cent compared to corresponding period last year when ginneries received 97,78,451 bales. According to the 6th fortnightly report of Pakistan Cotton Ginners Association (PCGA) issued here today,Chairman of PCGA Haji Muhammad Akram,Ex- Chairman Shehzad Ali Khan and Vice Chairman Mian Javed Tariq briefed the media men about cotton production and said that out of the total arrivals, 10,13 million bales of cotton have been converted into bales so far. Ginneries in Punjab recorded arrival of 61,07,802 bales against the last year arrival of 61,58,870 bales showing a decrease of merely 0.83 per cent. Sindh ginneries recorded arrival of 40,24,272 bales while last year Sindh received 36,19,581 bales 11.18% more . Ginneries in Sindh recorded an increase of 11.18 % as compared to corresponding period last year.Textile mills have bought 80,62,258 bales while exporters bought 2,11,989 bales. The total bales sold out so far were calculated at 82,74,247 bales. While 18,57,827 bales are lying unsold .Multan received 2,45,745 bales 12.50 % decrease than last year, Lodhran 1,30,204 bales 24.93 % decrease, Khanewal 6,21,909 bales an increase of 12.65 %, Muzaffargarh 2,90,926 bales a decrease of 3.88 %, Dera Ghazi Khan 3,65,799 an increase of 14.33 %, Rajanpur 4,09,700 bales, 24.53 % increase,Layyah 2,58,538 bales 2.06.% increase, Vehari 5,22,103 bales 47.12 % increase, Sahiwal 2,29,917 bales 16.16 % more than last year, Pakpattan 36,978 bales 7.92% decrease, Okara 15,750 bales- 16.25 % short, Toba Tek Singh 1,48,794 bales, 0.65 % increase , Faisalabad 34,149 bales 0.53 % less than last year, Jhang 20,400 showing a decrease of 31.46 %, Mianwali 1,65,615 a decrease of 30 % , Bhakkar 74,755(24.95 % more) Sargodha 7,200 (21.74 % decrease), Rahimyar Khan 9,01,064 bales (11.08 % decrease), Bahawalpur 8,79,107 an increase of 0.89 %,and Bahawalnagar 7,49,149 a decrease of 19.75 %. In Sindh province: Hyderabad 2,46,496 bales 10.24 % more than last year,Mirpur Khas (Thar) 2,19,294 bales 18.09 % less, Sangarh ,13,61,546 bales 12.48 % increase, Nawabshah 3,42,934 bales (9.26 % increase), Naushero Feroze 3,59,236 bales (11.37 % increase), Khairpur 3,23,538 (18.33 % increase) Ghotki 3,21,260 (15.84 % increase),Sukkur 5,40,709 (12.43 % increase), Dadu 50,627-(31.50 % increase, Jamshoro 1,28,679 bales (16.73 % more) ,Badeen 17,335 bales 35.86 % less) and Baluchistan 1,12,618 bales (an increase of 52.45%). Total 960 ginning factories are operational in the country.Of them 666 in Punjab and 294 in Sindh.Total 18,57,827 bales are lying in unsold stock.They told that the data was collected with joint cooperation of PCGA, APTMA and KCA. Haji Akram said that the country has so far produced 10.13 million cotton bales as the production recorded up to Dec Ist,it is four lakh bales more than last year, which makes the 2017-18 target of 12.6m bales achievable.The last fortnightly reports by the ginners’ body recorded the year-on-year growth in cotton production at 6.32 per cent . The latest report shows the annual increase of 3.62 pc only.This raises questions about the size of the crop. The early maturity of cotton plants due to excessive heat in Punjab may possibly have increased phutti (seed cotton) arrivals for a short period, directly impacting the production of cotton.Reports about poor cotton quality are already doing the rounds. Cotton bolls opened up earlier than usual due to the heat wave, thereby adversely impacting the growth and quality of lint,
