MULTAN, Sept 28th: Government failed to redress the grievances of the ginners, granting them incentives , relief in taxes and providing financial assistance to modernise the ginning industry,said Haji Muhammad Akram ,Chairman of Pakistan Cotton Ginners Association (PCGA),Dr.Jeso Mal ,Shehzad Ali Khan, Mukhtar Baloch and others while delivering their speeches at Annual General body meeting here today They vowed to avoid purchase of contaminated and wet raw cotton (Phutti) and they would prefer to buy good quality and unadulterated cotton. They stressed the need for setting up of an office of Pakistan Cotton Ginners Association in Islamabad and interaction with the National media so that their grievances could be redressed. They said that Textile industry was sinking due to Government's ill- conceived policies. 50 % textile mills have so far been closed. They said that Government had imposed tax of five to seven lakh on each ginning factory which is unjust and tantamount to closure of ginning sector.However PCGA had granted interim injunction from the division bench of High court. They regretted that Government did not fulfil its commitment made during last four years. They also said that Pakistan is a great “Nation-State”, it has phenomenal potential, great people, great talent, great resources, great rivers, high mountains, sunshine, four seasons, great agricultural land, great wealth of natural resources, great strategic location, great armed forces. "we would have to utilise this potential to make Pakistan strong and prosperous. Delivering his maiden speech after assuming his office as Chairman of PCGA Haji Muhammad Akram said that we have to adopt modern technology to produce good quality cotton,we have to discourage the contaminated cotton,we have to strengthen the farmers.How can we make it next “Asian Tiger”? There is no short cut but hard work, “Unity-Faith-Discipline”, educating the nation, skills development, learning trade & commerce, investing in health sector, feeding the poor, social housing programs, micro financing, building infra structure, “most importantly – focusing on agriculture”. He said that more than 1200 ginning factories were providing jobs to thousands of people and running more than 400 textile mills .He advised we should proud of being a Pakistani. "I have visited a number countries like India, China ,Bangladesh, United States etc and I ever pride of being Pakistani.He said that prosperity of the textile millers and ginners lie on the prosperity of farmers .He said that PCGA was a custodian of democratic norms and we should differ the others for the sake of betterment and development. Out going Chairman Dr.Jeso Mal urged upon the ginners not to purchase contaminated raw-cotton(Phutti).If anyone violates these instructions then he would face the music. Similarly,oil mills should avoid to mix anything in the oil-cake(Khal).He further advised the ginners to pay Rs.6 per maund tax in the light of negotiations between ginners and FBR otherwise they would have to pay Rs.70 per 40 kg.The meeting was attended by Shehzad Ali Khan, Haji Hafeez Anwar,Masud A Majeed, Mukhtar Baloch,Amanullah Qureshi, Sheikh Muhammad Saeed , Prem Chand Kohistani,Suhail Mehmood Haral, Senior Vice Chairman,Mian Mehmood Ahmed,Rana Abdul Sattar,Zahid Ali Khan,Khalid Hanif Lodhi, Rana Muhammad Saleem,Qaiser Raza ,Mehtab Ahmed Cheema, Satevan Lal Dhowani, Marghoob Ali Butt,and Maj(Redtd)Akhtar Abbas.
