Cotton Transparency: APTMA and PCGA join hands

Lahore: All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA) and Pakistan Cotton Ginners Association (PCGA) are set to develop an effective implementation plan for the Cotton Sales and Purchase Contract recently finalized jointly by APTMA and PCGA. In a statement, APTMA Chairman Kamran Arshad said, “This initiative aims to promote greater transparency, discipline, quality-based trading and confidence throughout Pakistan’s cotton value chain.”

A delegation of the Pakistan Cotton Ginners Association (PCGA), led by Chairman PCGA, Sham Lal Manglani, met with Chairman APTMA, Kamran Arshad, at APTMA House, Lahore.

Chairman APTMA proposed two joint initiatives including “PCGA–APTMA Joint Cotton Crop Survey”, in which APTMA and PCGA will combine their institutional networks, field resources, crop visits and cotton arrival data to develop independent and credible crop production estimates.

The initiative will provide the textile and ginning industries with a clearer and more timely assessment of crop size, particularly in view of the serious challenges created by the absence of reliable and consistent official crop data, it stated.

Secondly, PCGA–APTMA “Select Ginner” Programme, which will be launched during the current cotton season to identify, recognize and reward leading ginners producing high-quality, contamination-free and industry-compliant cotton. It will encourage improved ginning practices, better handling, quality preservation and stronger linkages between ginners and textile mills.

Sham Lal Manglani reaffirmed PCGA’s full cooperation in implementing the Cotton Sales and Purchase Contract and strengthening coordination between ginners and the textile industry.

Both associations agreed that the revival of cotton requires coordinated action, credible crop information, transparent trading mechanisms and a strong national focus on improving cotton quality from the farm to the textile mill.