Page 18 - November-December-2018

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Innovation in Cotton Breeding and

Biotechnology conference at MNSUA

A two-day Sino-Pak international conference on Mr Gardezi explained, “Pakistan is lagging behind in
“Innovation in Cotton Breeding and Biotechnology” cotton production because technology and breeding
commenced at the Muhammad Nawaz Sharif system of the crop has changed in the world.” He
University of Agriculture (MNSUA). further added that one cannot avoid the continuous
changes in technology the world was bringing in. He
Delegates from China, Malaysia, Turkey and Iran said the country had to import cotton to meet
along with national agri scientists attended the domestic demands because it could not match the
conference held under the auspices of Institute of pace of the world. “Over 50 per cent of Pakistani
Plant Breeding and Biotechnology in collaboration exports consisted of cotton or cotton items. We could
with Biotechnology Research Institute China, improve our exports if we go for value addition of
Bahauddin Zakariya University and the Punjab cotton.” He also said South Punjab was home to cotton
government. and if MNSUA made it a regular feature to organize
such international conferences annually, it would attract
Mr Hussain Jahania Gardezi, Punjab Management a lot more scientists from across the globe.
and Professional Training Minister speaking on the
occasion said that cotton was the future of the MNSUA Vice-Chancellor Dr Asif Ali highlighted the
country’s economy. The minister informed that three objective of the conference and announced to make it
decades ago, Pakistan had produced 12 million an annual feature of the varsity. He hoped that the
cotton bales, regretting that last year the country only experience of international delegates would be helpful
produced 10 million bales. in improving the cotton scenario of the country.

Textile sector records

bad loans of Rs186bn

Textile sector recorded the highest amount of non-performing loans (NPLs) at Rs185.6 billion in second
quarter of 2018 with an infection ratio of 18.9pc, reported the State Bank of Pakistan in Statistical
Bulletin-December 2018.

Percentage-wise, agriculture had the highest rate of infected loans during the period at 19.4pc, from 12.6pc
in the previous quarter, with NPLs of Rs61.7bn. Agriculture sector has lately been struggling through water
shortage as well as the ongoing crisis around sugarcane pricing.

The Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) slightly improved their performance as the infection ratio fell to
17.8pc with NPLs of Rs75bn in second quarter of 2018, compared to 18pc in the first quarter.

November/December 2018