Pakistan likely to allow cotton import from India with bold conditions

Pakistan is likely to start issuing permit for import of cotton from India through land route in a next few days under new tough conditions that may not fully ease already imposed restrictions on trade.

Pakistan, which is the world's fourth largest cotton producing country, falls short of around four million bales a year to meet the local demand of nearly 16 million bales.

Citing official sources, The News International stated, "A permit from the Department of Plant Protection of Pakistan's food ministry is mandatory, under the new phytosanitary conditions, for import of unprocessed cotton, including raw or seed cotton, from India."

The consignments would be inspected and tested by the National Plant Protection Organisation according to appropriate procedures and to ensure the goods are free from biosecurity pests.

Pakistan Government had suspended the import of cotton from India last year after its Department of Plant Protection had put forward some objections.Earlier in the past, Pakistan used to import 0.5 to 2.8 million cotton bales from India.

Naseem Usman, chairman of Karachi Cotton Brokers Association is expecting an import of around 0.7 million bales from India this year.

Describing Indian cotton as good in quality, Usman said it would be convenient for them to buy cotton from India, as delivery time was short and price was feasible.

However, Ihsanul Haq, chairman of Pakistan Cotton Ginners Forum, said the new conditions would not help in fully restoring cotton trade between the two countries.

Textile mills in Pakistan have been long demanding restoration of cotton import from India, the world?s second biggest cotton producer, to meet shortfall in local production.