The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the Pakistani cabinet has approved import of cotton from Afghanistan and Central Asian states via the land route to meet its shortfall in the key textile industry. The ECC took the decision in line with a proposal submitted by the Ministry of Commerce and Textile during a meeting presided over by the Finance Minister Asad Umar. The meeting, however, allowed the import via Torkham border with the condition that imported cotton should meet the sanitary and phytosanitary regulations.

Pakistan is a net cotton importer with the textile industry consuming 12 to 15 million bales per annum. The country imports cotton from various sources. Afghanistan and central Asian states are producers and exporters of cotton and they have reasonable share in Pakistan’s import mix as imports from these countries are cheap due to land route compared to the United States and other destinations.

The ECC, in consideration of the proposal from Ministry of Industries and production, also approved a grant of Rs 1.066 billion payment of outstanding dues, including provident fund, gratuity and payroll dues, to families of deceased employees of Pakistan Steel Mills.