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Customs delayed plant clearance

delinted cottonseed for

growers from next season

LAHORE: The Punjab Seed Corporation (PSC), will provide delinted seed to the cotton growers in the Punjab province during next sowing season.

According to PSC sources, one year delay in the operation of the cottonseed delinting plants at Rahimyar Khan and Khanewal was due to the non-cooperative attitude of the Customs department which withheld the machinery consignments last year for about three months on pretext or the other. "The non-cooperative attitude on the part of Customs department also tranished the image of Pakistan in the eyes of the American firm which was awarded contract for the installation of plants", the PSC chief, Brig. (rtd) Mohammad Aziz Ahmad Khan, said.

The PSC had awarded contract to the American firm, W.S. International in November 1993, for the completion of the Rs 54.8 million project within six months on Turnkey basis. But the corporation had to terminate the contract on June 12, 1995 when the firm refused to go ahead after installing the plant at Rahimyar Khan. The machinery shipments for the Khanewal have reached Pakistan.

The sources said that a sum of Rs 57 lakh of the American firm in the form of bank guarantee and local currency had been withheld by the PSC which would be utilized for the completion of remaining work.

Chief Minister's Inspection Team (CMIT) had probed into the award of the contract to the W.S International and found the firm sound.

One of the firms presently engaged in mud-slinging against PSC was interested in selling delinted cottonseed to the corporation with delinting charges of Rs 10 per kg of the seed against the actual cost of Rs 2 only," Brig Khan alleged.

When asked about the options left with the PSC for the completion of the project, he said that the Corporation had two options: either to restore the contract to the W.S International with revised terms and conditions, or opt for a fresh award of contract to some other firm for the completion of remaining project.

"I personally feel that the restoration of contract to W.S International is more feasible," Khan said.

The private firms were selling cottonseed at a rate of Rs 55 per kg against PSC's rate of Rs 18 per kg. "In this scenario, it is very bad to blame the corporation for every ill ruling the agriculture sector," PSC cheif added.-APP