Pakistan's Agriculture, Cotton & Textiles - News and Updates

[ameer219]

Pakistan eyeing $10 billion textile exports


Published: April 13, 2010

Pakistan eyeing $10 billion textile exports | Pakistan | News | Newspaper | Daily | English | Online

KARACHI (APP) - Federal Advisor on Textile Dr Mirza Ikhtiar Baig said Monday that the government was targeting over $ 10 billion of exports of textiles and garments made-ups in the successive years.
He was addressing a press conference on the 3rd and closing day of 7th Textile Asia at Karachi Expo Centre. He said that all the exhibitors were returning home with satisfaction after negotiating sufficient business at the event.
“It is heartening to learn that a number of MoU’s have been signed at Textile Asia. A total business of approximately $ 30 million (about Rs 2.5 billion) has been negotiated in these three days of the exhibition, he noted.
The event ended successfully and all in all attracted more than 212 foreign delegates and over 38,465 trade/corporate visitors till now and the flow of visitors can still be witnessed, he added.
He said that textile and garment are two of Pakistan’ principal industries contributing more than 67pc to total export earnings, accounting for around 46pc of total manufacturing and employing over 38pc of the manufacturing labor force.
The Federal Advisor said that to support investment for upgrading textiles machinery and technology, the government has issued Technology Up-gradation Support’ Order 2010 and has allocated Rs 40 billion towards various incentives allowed in the new Textile Policy 2009-14.
These included the opening of export marketing offices and warehouses abroad, 50pc reimbursement of 3 foreign staff, 50pc payment of one year rental and 50pc subsidy for the acquisitions of brands and franchises.
Dr. Khursheed Nizam, President Ecommerce Gateway said that Textile Asia has created a firm reputation share in strengthening our Textile and Garment industry.
He said the 8th Textile Asia 2011 Int’l Exhibition will be held on April 3-5, 2011.

 

[ameer219]

Korea to set up garment technology training centre


KARACHI (April 15 2010): Korea is to set up a Garment Technology Training Centre in Pakistan and his government had already sanctioned $100 million for the project. This was said by the Consul General of South Korea in Karachi, In Ki LEE while addressing the media. The Korean Consul General said Pakistan is a very important country in terms of cotton production as it ranks fourth in terms of world production.

The textile industry is one of the corner stones of her economy with Pakistan being ranked the 12th exporting country of textile products. Furthermore, Pakistan had taken far-reaching steps to ensure the textile industry keeps growing in leaps and bounds.

He said South Korea over the decades had accumulated vast reservoirs of knowledge about the textile industry regarding sophisticated and state-of-the-art garment technology along with human resource development. Keeping in view this fact the Pakistani government requested the Korean government to establish a Garment Technology training center dedicated to the professional training of core engineering in the textile industry.

In this connection, a field study was carried out twice in 2007 and 2008 by the Korea International Co-operation Agency, KOICA. Consequently, and the Korean government decided to provide assistance to set up a Garment Technology Training center.

The training center for vocational education and technology will conduct professional training to develop skilled workers in five areas including garment technology, knitwear technology, apparel marketing, line supervision & operating of sewing machine. It will also be involved in the development of textbooks and employment of training professionals.

For easy accessibility the training center will be located near Karachi's industrial area till the time the Karachi Garment City Project is established. The Ministry of Textile & Industry will employ personnel to operate the center and train teachers for education and training.

KOICA will help set up systems for establishment and management of the center, organising the curriculum and provide support to the staff. It will also provide equipment necessary for the center and training. The Korean Consul General said this project will prove to be a touchstone in the mutual relationship between both countries and enhance bilateral exchange and co-operation between Pakistan and Korea.-PR

Copyright Business Recorder, 2010
Business Recorder [Pakistan's First Financial Daily]

 

[ameer219]

UAE firm plans to desalinise farmland

Business Recorder [Pakistan's First Financial Daily]


DUBAI (April 16 2010): UAE-based Magnetic Technologies is working with the Pakistani government to reduce the salinity of 6 million hectares of farmland currently unsuitable for farming, the firm's managing director told Reuters. "Food security is a growing concern world-wide and we are at a point right now where increasing areas used for farming is key to sustain future food supplies," Junaid Khoory said in an interview.

The firm plans to sell magnetic irrigation systems which boosts the ability of water to absorb salts, allowing it to "flush" the land, he added. Pakistan is looking for ways to increase its agriculture yields. Last year, the Asian country offered to lease or sell 1 million hectares to foreign investors as it looked to encourage technology transfer. For foreign investors, the deals were a chance to improve food supply security.

"Farmland is becoming a scarce resource and we get approached by a lot of countries looking to increase their yields and by using magnetic technologies we increase yields by around 30 percent," said Khoory. The firm was also working to supply equipment to Egypt's organic food producer Sekem Group, he said.

It aimed to expand into Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, Qatar and Ethiopia, which also have high salinity levels in land, he said. Khoory said the magnetic technology was yet to become mainstream in agriculture. "The main problem is that people are not convinced that something like this can work, that's why we have to sell them results and not the technical details of how it works," he said. "In the UAE for example we can help increase the yield of the crops we already have like palm trees... we can even grow new crops like coconuts which we can't have right now because of high salt levels," said Khoory.

Copyright Reuters, 2010

 

[ameer219]

Cotton prices hit record Rs6,000

KARACHI: The cotton prices on Thursday steadily rose to an all-time high of Rs6,000 per maund as ginners were in a commanding position to guide the market trend owing to terribly low unsold stocks left with them.

A deal of 400 bales from a Gothki ginnery was finalised at an all-time high of Rs6,000 per maund so far and analyst Naseem Usman said further increase in prices was on the cards before the arrival of the new crop.

According to official figures the unsold stocks dipped below the 0.200m bales which were barely enough for two days’ total mill consumption.

But spinners were acting wisely to the developing situation on the global cotton front as leading among them were not inclined to get panicked and lifted only those lots which conformed to their export parity levels, market sources said.

The weaker links of the spinners and mills were, however, at the receiving end because of their limited resource base and they had to operate on daily basis as compared to their leading partners who had an enormous liquidity at their disposal, they said.

The New York cotton futures on the other hand again came in for modest pruning and were marked down by 0.53 and 0.52 cents per lb at 79.50 and 81.09 cents for both the ruling May and the forward July contracts respectively.

The official spot rates on the other hand were revised upward by Rs50 at Rs5,750 per maund but in the ready section some of the deals were done well above them.

The following are some of the deals gone through on Thursday: 300 bales, exporter-to-mill at Rs5,700, 600 bales, Nawabshah at Rs5,775, 200 bales, Tando Janmohammad at Rs5,800, 200 bales each and 600 bales, Haroonabad, Khanewal and Kehror Pacca at Rs5,850.

DAWN.COM | Business | Cotton prices hit record Rs6,000

 

[ameer219]

Import of 75,000 metric tons sugar: TCP awards tender to Cargill International


RECORDER REPORT

Business Recorder [Pakistan's First Financial Daily]


KARACHI (April 18 2010): The Trading Corporation of Pakistan has awarded tender for import of 75,000 MT sugar to the lowest bidder - Cargill International. In pursuance of the Economic Co-ordination Committee of the Cabinet decision, the TCP is importing sugar for price stabilisation with a view to providing relief to common man.

The process is under way and the TCP has awarded a quantity of 75,000 MT at $591.00 PMT C&F to the lowest bidder, M/s. Cargill International SA Switzerland conforming to all technical specification of PSQCA and tender terms & conditions. Seven bidders participated in the tender and prices quoted by them ranged between $591.00 to $649.70 C&F, which is in line with current international sugar prices. The shipment process is starting from April 21, 2010 and around 77,225 MT sugar is expected to arrive by the end of this month.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2010

 

[ameer219]

Rs 2.2 billion paid for R&D to 1,146 textile units

Business Recorder [Pakistan's First Financial Daily]

TAHIR AMIN

ISLAMABAD (April 20 2010): The Ministry of Textile has disbursed Rs 2.2 billion among 1146 registered units on submission of their research and development (R&D) claims. Sources in the Textile Ministry told Business Recorder that the government had earmarked Rs 5.6 billion for R&D. To claim R&D dues it was mandatory to register all textile units with the Ministry of Textile.

They said that the Finance Ministry had released Rs 1.2 billion as the first tranche for R& D, which was distributed among 200 registered units. The Finance Ministry released Rs 1 billion to disburse the amount among the qualified and registered units.

Around 10,000 exporters' R&D claims are pending, but only 1146, registered with the R&D Cell of the Ministry of Textile have been assured reimbursement. Registration process of textile units is underway and so far about 5500 units have filed the forms on-line. The Ministry has evolved a three-tier scrutiny system for checking the forms which are forwarded by the associations after verification.

Sources said that the number of the forms so far received is about 5500, of which about 125 units have been issued Provisional Certificates; approximately 1146 final certifications having full information were endorsed and Rs 2 billion has been issued to them under the R&D claims.

Sources said that the remaining forms were returned to the associations as these had major discrepancies and could not be considered even for Provisional certification. These forms will have to be resubmitted. However, textile associations have rejected the registration process, saying that it is so complicated that only 10 percent of the textile units have got registered while the remaining 90 percent are awaiting registration forms.

They said that under the new textile policy, the government had issued SROs about free import of machinery for the textile sector. The Ministry of Textile also issued three notifications for the implementation of the Policy, according to which, textile manufacturers will receive three percent drawback on garments, two percent on home textile and one percent on fabrics. But due to so much complicated registration process these facilities are awaited.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2010

 

[ameer219]

SBP holds agricultural exhibition

Business Recorder [Pakistan's First Financial Daily]

RECORDER REPORT

ISLAMABAD (April 22 2010): State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) on Wednesday organised an agricultural exhibition for farmers' community at village Paryal, Union Council Ckakri, Rawalpindi to create awareness among the growers about the use of modern means of cultivation. The primary objective of the exhibition was to educate the farmers of the Barani areas and inform them how to maximise crop output in the absence of sufficient water.

Director SBP, Amjad Mazoor addressing the participants of the exhibition said that SBP was trying to educate rural masses about the available opportunities engaging all financial institutions to provide easy loans to the farmers. He advised the farmers to take full advantage of the modern means of farming to maximise their crops output, which would enable them to improve their life standard.

Speaking on the occasion Punjab Agriculture Minister, Malik Ahmad Ali Aulakh said that the government of Punjab was making full efforts to provide maximum benefits to the farmers. He added that the government has recently approved eight BT cotton varieties along with one hybrid variety for cultivation in Punjab for 2010-11. The minister said to promote agriculture research, Punjab government has reactivated Punjab Agricultural Research Board (PARB) after 11 years. "The government has also established Punjab Agricultural Marketing Company (PAMCO)," he said.

Creating awareness among the growers was need of hour as Pakistan's economy was totally based on agriculture, he said adding last year, due to severe dry spell, farmers in Barani areas were unable to cultivate wheat. At least 50 percent cultivatable lands in Barani areas were not cultivated. The exhibition was attended agriculture input suppliers including tractors, pesticides, seed, farm machinery, Nadra, public and private financial institutions, agriculture experts and a large number of farmers.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2010

 

[ameer219]

A feather in the cap: Iran, Iraq and BD

show willingness to import wheat
* About 1m tonnes of wheat crop procured

By Ijaz Kakakhel

ISLAMABAD: The governments of Bangladesh, Iraq and Iran have expressed their desire to import wheat from Pakistan through government channel, sources told
Daily Times on Wednesday.

Federal Minister for Food and Agriculture Nazar Mohammad Gondal expressed these views while presiding over a meeting to review the wheat procurement and progress in the export of surplus wheat.

The Federal Committee on Agriculture (FCA) in its meeting on April 12 forecasted 23.87 million tonnes wheat crops in the current year. The government also has about four million tonnes carryover stock of the previous year and thus the total availability of wheat for the current year is 27.87 million tonnes. Total requirement of the country is 21.70 million tonnes at the rate of 124 kilogramme per capita/ annum. More than six million tonnes was surplus and some of it would be kept as strategic reserve and for seed, feed and wastage. In order to avoid any mishap regarding wheat availability in the country, the government had announced to export about two million tonnes of wheat. In the international market the wheat prices have come down and were recorded at about Rs 800 per 40kg but the government purchased wheat at Rs 950 per 40kg. In order to avoid expected loss in exporting wheat at lower prices, the government took initiatives of government-to-government contact particularly with Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan and Bangladesh. The meeting was informed that these countries were willing to import wheat from Pakistan through the government channel. The government has contacted several countries for export of wheat, the sources maintained.

Official statement of the ministry revealed that Gondal informed the meeting that the efforts of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MINFA) and the Ministry of Commerce have yielded encouraging results.

About the procurement of wheat in the current season, Gondal reiterated the government’s resolve to guarantee the announced support price of Rs 950 per 40kg to the farmers. The minister said till Wednesday, the government procured 0.95 million tonnes of wheat so far in Punjab and Sindh by provincial food departments and PASSCO.

However, sources said that the farmers in Sindh and Punjab were getting Rs 800 to Rs 850 per 40kg. As the government has already four million tonnes previous year’s wheat stock, the farmers were facing trouble in getting bags (Bardana).

Sources said that the country has 4.5 million tonnes wheat storage capacity, which was full right now while the procurement of new crop had already initiated in Sindh and Punjab. Due to limited storage capacity, it would be difficult for the government to maintain huge stock of wheat for a longer period. To avoid expected loss to the stored wheat in open areas, it would be better to export wheat as early as possible, the sources maintained. The government fixed wheat procurement target at 7.5 million tonnes for the year 2010 against the initial target of 6.5 million tonnes last year but later procured 9.233 million tonnes.

According to schedule the procurement target for 2010 are Punjab 4 million tonnes against last year’s target of 3.5 million tonnes, Sindh 1.5 million tonnes against last year’s 1.2 million tonnes, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan have to procure 0.3 and 0.1 million tonnes, respectively for the coming season. The procurement target for PASSCO has been fixed at 1.6 million tonnes against the last year’s initial target of 1.5 million tonnes. The minister informed the meeting that the decision of the cabinet to export surplus wheat was followed by formal contacts with certain countries with the help of the Ministry of Commerce. MINFA Additional Secretary Shahid Hussain Raja, Wheat Commissioner Dr Shakeel Khan, JS Food Jasmin Masood and PASSCO’s officials attended the meeting.


Daily Times - Leading News Resource of Pakistan

 

[Omar1984]

Growth in raw cotton, yarn pushes up textile exports ​

KARACHI: Country’s textile exports showed signs of recovery on the back of phenomenal growth in raw cotton and yarn but the value-added segments continued reeling in the first nine months of the current fiscal year.

Textile products exports totaled $7.597 billion in July-March of the current financial year against $7.190 billion in the same period of last year, registering 5.66 percent growth, according to Federal Bureau of Statistics (FBS) on Wednesday. Growth in overall textile exports was triggered by a phenomenal growth in the raw cotton increasing 141.59 percent, cotton yarn going up by 28.96 percent and yarn other than cotton yarn growing 102 percent during the period under review.

On the other hand, the other export products in textile category either fell or posted considerably nominal growth, especially the value-added textile products depicted dismal show during the said months. Cotton cloth exports were down 13.42 percent to $1.307 billion in the first nine months against 1.509 billion in the same period of the last year. Knitwear exports fell almost two percent to $1.290 billion against $1.315 billion previous year and bedwear exports also decreased by 1.45 percent to $1.257 billion as compared to $1.275 billion last year. Cotton carded or combed registered 43 percent fall.

Towels export increased by 3.80 percent, tents, canvas & tarpulin 2.88 percent, readymade garments 4.21 percent, art silk & synthetic textiles 75.67 percent etc. Exporters said growth in textile exports could have been even higher if the government had not restricted yarn exports by allowing only a specific quota in the month of January this year.

“In view of inability of value-added sectors to compete their foreign counterparts, it was yarn which could have earned precious foreign exchange for the country”, they said and regretted this option has been discarded on the pressure of downstream textile industries on the pretext of shortage of yarn for the local needs.

Value-added exporters, however said domestic issues like high financing cost, power shortage and growing utility charges, little market access to western markets are making Pakistani products uncompetitive against its competitors and if the situation gets corrected, value-added sector could earn much higher foreign exchange. staff report

 

[ameer219]

50,000 acres of land to be distributed among landless haris

Business Recorder [Pakistan's First Financial Daily]

ISLAMABAD (April 23 2010): The Sindh government will distribute more than 50,000 acres of state land to female landless Haris. Pursuing the dreams of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Shaheed, more than 43,000 acres of State land has already been distributed amongst the Haris along with the support package which include seeds, fertiliser, pesticides, health and insurance facility.

In the second phase, the land will be distributed in Sehwan, Manihan and Kotri Taluka of Jamshoro district. The Sindh government initiated a revolutionary programme " free distribution of state Land to landless Haris" in November 2008. The landless Haris Programme Land Utilisation Department of Board of Revenue has directed all eligible Haris to contact concerned District Officer (Revenue) for any information.

Copyright Associated Press of Pakistan, 2010

 

[ameer219]

Rs 10 billion earmarked for uplift of dairy, livestock sectors

Business Recorder [Pakistan's First Financial Daily]


FAISALABAD (April 25 2010): The federal government has evolved a comprehensive strategy for the development of dairy and livestock sectors in the country to augment meat and milk production. A spokesman of the Food, Agriculture and Livestock Department told APP here Saturday that under this programme, Rs 10 billion have been earmarked and a summary has been moved to the ministry of finance for release of funds.

He said that for promotion and boosting of livestock and dairy sector in the country, soft loans, without any interest, would be provided to the animal breeders. The government would encourage those parties interested to set up livestock and dairy farms of at least one thousand animals.

The government would also encourage the private sector to import special cows for further breeding. Likewise, to save the famous Sahiwal cows and Ravi buffaloes, the government would provide all type of assistance to the livestock farmers for the boosting of this sector on scientific lines and maximum earning. The spokesman said the country direly needs quality meat and milk and hoped that with the establishment of the chain of livestock and dairy farms, the trend of escalation in the prices of meat and milk would be checked.

Copyright Associated Press of Pakistan, 2010

 

[ameer219]

Fish exports surge by 41 percent in March

Business Recorder [Pakistan's First Financial Daily]

ISLAMABAD (April 27 2010): The seafood exports from the country witnessed positive growth of 41.07 percent during March 2010 as against the exports of February 2010. The fish and fish preparations export during March 2010 were recorded at $24.576 million against the exports of $17.421 million during February 2010, according to data released by Federal Bureau of Statistics (FBS).

As against the exports $24.080 million during March 2009, the seafood exports during the same month of current fiscal year witnessed growth of 2.06 percent. On the other hand, country's seafood exports witnessed negative growth of 7.84 percent during the first nine months of the current fiscal over the corresponding period of last year. The fish and fish preparations exports during July-March (2009-10) were recorded at $158.043 million as against the exports of $171.493 million recorded during July-March (2008-09), the FBS data revealed.

Copyright Associated Press of Pakistan, 2010



Wheat procurement: drive picks up momentum in Punjab

Business Recorder [Pakistan's First Financial Daily]

ZAHID BAIG

LAHORE (April 27 2010): Punjab Food Department has procured 7,46,267 metric tons of wheat from across the province during its ongoing 'wheat procurement drive 2010' started from April 15. While the Pakistan Agricultural Storage and Services Corporation (Passco) has procured 43, 500 metric tons of wheat.

According to the sources in the provincial food department, the wheat procurement drive has picked some momentum as it procured 1, 38, 761 metric tons of wheat on Monday from across the province and the total, so far, has reached to over 7, 46,000 metric tons.

Region-wise break up shows that the food department on Monday procured 17 metric tons of wheat from Rawalpindi region, 11,055 metric tons from Gujranwala, 9826 metric tons from Lahore, 14,802 metric tons Faisalabad, 12, 415 metric tons from Sargodha, 28, 312 metric tons from Multan, 18, 311 metric tons from Sahiwal, 17, 487 metric tons from Dera Ghazi Khan and 26, 536 metric tons from Bahwalpur region. While the gunny bags distributed amongst the growers on Monday were equal to 1, 52000 metric tons of wheat and total gunny bags (bardana) distributed amongst the farmers so far was sufficient to pack 1.62 million tons of wheat.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2010


116,760 tons of wheat procured in Multan


MULTAN (April 27 2010): Around 116,760 tons wheat has been procured in the four districts of Multan division during last 11 days till April 25 by the Food department, officials said on Monday. Food department officials said the procurement drive began on April 15 and the process was in progress. Around 44,694 ton wheat was procured in Multan, 18,604 tons in Lodhran, 26,998 tonnes in Vehari and 26,464 tonnes in Khanewal, officials said.

Copyright Associated Press of Pakistan, 2010

Business Recorder [Pakistan's First Financial Daily]

 

[ameer219]

Passco procures 79,000 megawatts of wheat so far

Business Recorder [Pakistan's First Financial Daily]

ZAHID BAIG

LAHORE (April 28 2010): Pakistan Agricultural Storage and Services Corporation (Passco) has so far procured 79,000 metric tons of wheat in the first week of 'wheat procurement drive 2010' against the allocated target of 1.6 million tons. General Manager (Field), Passco, Abdul Majeed said this while talking to Business Recorder here on Tuesday. He further said that wheat procurement drive is gaining momentum at all procurement centres mostly in Punjab.

It may be mentioned here that the organisation is buying wheat in designated/allocated 15 tehsils of Punjab, comprising 192 purchase centres, ie, Hafizabad, Pindi Bhattian, Gojra, Okara, Pakpattan, Burewala, Mailsi, Mian Channu, Lodhran, Karore Pacca, Bahawalnagar, Minchinabad, Alipur, Jatoi, Khanpr, Layyah and three tehsils, comprising 11 purchase centres in Sindh (Khairpur).

The Corporation had made all arrangements for necessitating/ facilitating to small farmers. To procure wheat, 10 million New Bardana (Jute bags) has been distributed at all the centres. Passco has procured 79,000 metric tons up to April 26, 2010. Passco management has constituted a committee as well as revenue record with staff available at every purchase centre, to keep out middleman in this process.

Seven days will be observed as working days. In case of any discrepancy problem formers may contacts Zonal Heads or General Manager (Field), Lahore at this Number.042-99201468. Meanwhile, Kisan Board Pakistan (KBP) has accused the government of deliberately carrying out the wheat procurement drive on slow pace due to which growers were forced to sell their produce to arthis and middlemen.

It claimed that if the government had initiated wheat procurement drive in time then growers could had been saved from being robbed. A spokesman of the Board said that the planners made tall claims this year like every year but could not save growers from being deprived. It claimed that arthis and middlemen, who bought wheat on cheaper rates from growers, were not supplying this wheat at Rs 950 per maund at government procurement centres.

Middlemen and officials posted at these procurement centres were making millions in this way, the spokesman added. The spokesman said that the ratio with which procurement centres were issuing gunny bags, it seemed that wheat procurement drive would not last even for two months and the growers were not capable to hold their produce for two months or over.

It urged the government to remove all the hardships in the way of supplying of gunny bags and ensure maximum availability of them. It said that the Central Government should also take measures for easing the procurement policy and direct the Pakistan Agricultural Storage and Services Corporation (Passco) to expedite

Copyright Business Recorder, 2010



Trading improves, prices remain range-bound on cotton market

Business Recorder [Pakistan's First Financial Daily]

RECORDER REPORT

KARACHI (April 28 2010): Prices were still higher on the cotton market on Tuesday as ginners showed no change in their attitude towards prices, dealers said. The Karachi Cotton Association (KCA) official spot rate maintained the overnight level at Rs 6500, they said. In the ready business, over 7000 bales of cotton change hands, rates ranging between Rs 6600-6800.

It seems that the prices may touch the new high at Rs 7000 in the near future, Naseem Usman said. Phutti prices in both the Punjab and Sindh were at Rs 2400-2600, they added. Market sources said that the ginners did not show interest in lowering the prices, instead, trying to increase the asking prices.

No fall was seen in the rates despite the news that India is giving permission to its cotton exporters to sell cotton to Pak importers, which was contracted before the ban. How the prices move after the Indian move, it will depend on development in coming days, some analysts said. On Monday the NY cotton futures ended easier on investor sales as the market again retreated after setting an early high while the trade mulled the large amount of deliveries in the spot May cotton contract, brokers said. The benchmark July cotton contract fell 0.31 cent to finish at 85.89 cents, trading from 85.41 to 87.10 cents.

The spot May cotton contract slipped 0.24 cent to finish at 84.02 cents per lb, dealing from 83.69 to 85.10 cents. New-crop December rose 0.21 cent to end at 77.60 cents. According to a report the cotton seed bug, a pest that has not been found in the United States, has been found for the first time in Florida, agriculture officials said.

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services said in a statement that on Friday the pest was found by one of its inspector among cotton plants in the Florida Keys. "The cotton seed bug is a serious pest of cotton and we are hopeful it is contained on an island in the Keys, far away from the cotton production area," Florida Agriculture Commissioner Charles Bronson said.

The following deals were reported: 4000 bales of cotton (mill to mill) done at Rs 6500, 1000 bales (mill to mill) at Rs 6800, 1000 bales from Sadiqabad at Rs 6200 and 400 bales from Rahim Yar Khan at Rs 6800, dealers said.

 

[Hyde]

Passco procures 79,000 megawatts of wheat so far

79,000 megawatts?????? that was 79,000 metric tons

 

[sparklingway]

لوڈ شیدڈنگ کی وجہ سے megawatt سب کے سر پے سوار ہے