ahore—2010): All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (Aptma), Pakistan Cotton Ginning Association (PCGA) and Farmers Associate Pakistan (FAP) have announced the formation of Pakistan Cotton Forum. Chairman Aptma Gohar Ejaz, Chairman PCGA Haji Mohammad Akram and Executive Director FAP Farooq Bajwa informed journalists during a press conference held at Aptma Punjab office.

Talking to newsmen, Chairman Aptma Ejaz said Pakistan Cotton Forum was being constituted to promote interests of three entities and to achieve productivity, quality and economic returns. He said the tripartite meeting held on the request of Aptma, which is also mover of the idea of Pakistan Cotton Forum.

The participants of the meeting deliberated upon the issues currently being confronted by the cotton producers in the country including availability of water, quality seed, fertilisers, pesticides, crop insurance and bank financing and per acre production enhancement.

The chairman Aptma said Pakistan Cotton Forum would consist of a board comprising ex-chairmen besides three members from respective associations. The PCF board, he said, would meet on monthly basis in order to formulate and finalise the scope of the forum in the coming meetings.

He said the forum was being created to provide an opportunity to discuss, resolve and achieve potential of about $10 billion economic activity through production and exports of three important segments of the textile industry. He said Aptma, PCGA and FAP are on the same page to meet emerging challenges of business community under the free market mechanism and added that the forum would endeavour to impart technology awareness, sharing of knowledge and lobbying for issues confronted by the textile industry.—Agencies