Pakistan to produce cotton in Balochistan with China’s help

Islamabad: Pakistan will produce cotton in the Balochistan province with the help of Iron Brother China.

China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) Authority Chairman Lt. General Asim Saleem Bajwa (retd) had recently said the Chinese agriculturists were interested in producing cotton in unused lands.

The Balochistan provincial government has approved the proposal and allowed such activity on unused lands for mutual benefit said a spokesperson. He said the implementation will be ensured through consultations.

Pakistan spent US $1.838 billion on cotton imports during nine months of the current fiscal year (2020-2021) – up 46 per cent from US $ 1.258 billion in the same period in the last fiscal year.

The nine months imports surpassed the FY20 total cotton import bill of US $1.704 billion. Cotton import bill in FY19-20 was US $ 1.65 billion.

CPEC Authority chairman Asim Saleem Bajwa recently said that Pakistan was Pakistan was eyeing to produce cotton in Balochistan with the help of China. He added that some Chinese agriculturists were interested in producing cotton in unused lands.

Pakistan government has set 10.5 million bales target for the current season. However, cotton brokers suggest that production would be around 8 million bales.