Findings of recent back-to-back surprise visits to some ginning factories in lower Sindh — known for cotton production — by members of the Pakistan Cotton Ginners Association (PCGA) regarding production of adulterated lint cotton show that challenges to Pakistan’s cotton sector are far from over.

Adulterated lint cotton was being produced by ginners, as exposed by PCGA, by using cotton waste to make bales of lint. The very bales were then supplied to spinning and textile mills to the detriment of the entire cotton sector that has been struggling to regain lost ground in the country for the last several years. Adulteration of ginned cheap cotton waste with seed cotton affects the quality of yarn and the strength of the ensuing products.

These surprise visits were reported in Mirpurkhas and Sanghar districts — rich cotton producing regions — in the last few months with the recent one took place in the second week of October.

The number of such ginning units, according to former PCGA chairman Mahesh Kumar, had been increasing, and they were becoming a threat to those who believe in fair trade practices, thus putting the entire industry’s credibility at stake.

Besides supplies to spinning and textile industry, adulterated cotton has made its way to exports thus jeopardising the integrity of the entire sector

In the case of Sanghar district’s Tando Adam city, according to newly elected........

© Dawn Business