Government will protect the interests of farmers as well as Ginners- Sindar Bosan

MULTAN,April 12th:Federal Minister for National food security & Research Haji Sikandar Hayat Bosan has said that interests of farmers and ginners would be safeguarded in all cases . Plant Breeders Rights Act , giving protection to seed breeding companies with an amendment to protect farmers from the provision of substandard seeds.Talking to a delegation of Pakistan Cotton Ginners Association(PCGA) headed by Haji Muhammad Akran,its chairman ,the Minister said that the new law is aimed at establishing a viable seed industry in Pakistan, essential for food security and availability of high-quality seeds and planting material to the farmers. It will also protect intellectual property rights of seed companies that introduce new varieties. The Minister revealed that Bt cotton seeds were being illegally supplied in the market, particularly by a foreign company.Until now, there was no law to keep a check on poor quality seeds and also there had been no official permission for sale of Bt cotton seeds in the market.According to the law, there will be provisions for breeding new plant varieties and protecting the rights including exemptions. Under the law, a registrar office of Director General is being established with sub-offices in the provinces and the first Director General would be appointed in a few days.Sikandar Hayat Bosan assured on the behalf of his ministry that proposals/suggestions of PCGA would be considered properly and he would do his utmost to provide them relief for the betterment and survival of ginning industry.Haji Muhammad Akram submitted that refunds claims of withholding tax of cotton ginners be paid forthwith to save them from liquidity crunch.He further said that flat rate of electricity be introduced for ginning industry and there should be no sales tax of utility bill for them.He further said that Cotton Standarisation fee of Rs.5 per bale be waived He expressed concern on the issuance of unjust notices to ginners by the FBR. The meeting was also attended by the Federal secretsary and other high officials of ministry ofg National Food Security while Ex-Chairmen of PCGA Mukhtar Ahmed Baloch and Suhail Mehmood Haral were accompanied by Haji Muhammad Akram.
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