Pakistan Prime Minister approves PCCC restructuring to strengthen research

• March 12, 2020

After the restructuring, the PCCC would consist of the chief executive, senior representatives of the ministries of food security and textile, cotton commissioners, provincial secretaries for agriculture, four representatives of the textile sector, two representatives of cotton ginners, representatives of cotton traders, two of seed producers, four of farmers and an expert.

The meeting was given a detailed briefing on the current situation of cotton in the country, challenges faced by the cotton sector, problems about the production cost, matters relating to the research institution and seed sector and a strategy to save cotton crop from pests.

The meeting decided to bring in reforms in the seed sector and make the process of seed approval easier and faster.

The government and the All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA) agreed on the issue of cotton cess, ensuring the provision of required financial resources to the committee. It was also decided to set up a Research Endowment Fund for the PCCC and form a high-level Cotton Technology Steering Committee.

The meeting approved a timeline-based road map and other measures to boost the research sector, including amendment in the Cotton Cess Act 1923, removing the shortage of skilled manpower.