LAHORE (January 18 2009): Musharraf regime caused billions dollars loss to the national economy by delaying the decision of bringing production technique of Bio Technology (BT) Cotton from Minnesota, USA to the country.

According to sources in textile industry, the government of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was all set to conclude the deal and sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Minnesota authorities when his government was toppled by General Pervez Musharraf. The deal was jeopardised accordingly.

Since then, said the sources, the agriculture department remained adamant throughout the Musharraf regime to produce BT cotton locally, leaving the textile millers with no option but to import it from the US throughout eight years. The textile industry imported three million bales only last year, costing around 1.4 billion dollars to the national economy.

Not only this, the Musharraf regime has also been opposing the textile industry demand of letting it import BT cotton from the India through Wahga border, as it would cost much cheaper than import from other destinations via sea.

The BT cotton technique was discovered in the Minnesota, USA back in 1996. Many countries including China and India have brought the technology to their respective countries since then and multiplied their exports accordingly. Pakistan textile, on the other hand, has been importing it from different destinations to meet production shortage locally.

After eight long years, said the sources, the agriculture ministry has surrendered finally and steps are being taken to import this technology to produce BT cotton locally, said the sources. According to them, the present government has given a go-ahead to this effect and the textile sector would be able to get local BT cotton after a period of three years, provided the process starts immediately.