Multan, Pakistan
June 3, 2008
After achieving phenomenal acclaim
from the developing world in Basmati rice variety, a local
business group has now launched a research project involving
Pakistani and Chinese scientists to evolve a hybrid Bt cotton
variety, claimed a company executive.
Shehzad Ali Malik, director (marketing), Guard Group producing
agricultural as well as auto-related products, was speaking at a
ceremony to inaugurate the Guard AutoZone operation from Multan
at a CNG station late on Sunday night. He said the company plans
to establish 1,200 such facilities at CNG stations in three
years.
The president, Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and
Industry (FPCCI), Mian Tanveer Sheikh, company chief executive
Iftikhar Ali Malik, Saarc Chamber of Commerce and Industry
representative Tariq Saeed, LCCI President Muhammad Mian, and
senior company executives were present on the occasion.
FPCCI chief Tanveer Sheikh lauded the company for taking lead in
introducing indigenous Pakistani products like its Basmati rice,
adding that producing and marketing branded products has been
made a part of the trade policy of the country.
Shehzad Malik promised to carry out demand-based research on
cotton to evolve varieties that meet the requirements of the
textile industry. He said this sector still imports seed with
qualities like long staple, etc, while hybrid Bt cotton being
developed by the company will meet all requirements and will be
CLVC-resistant to solve the problem affecting cotton growers for
decades.
He paid rich tribute to the late Dr Abdul Majeed, who developed
the Guard Basmati rice variety, and the efforts of his father
late Muhammad Shafi Malik, who began the business under the name
'Malik Autos' in 1949, and since then the company never looked
back.
Shehzad Malik said that rice is being exported to 38 countries
and has helped boost rice export earnings to $700 million per
annum. He expressed hope that the to-be-developed hybrid Bt
cotton variety will bring about a positive change in the cotton
economy.
Source by: Daily Times
and Associated Press of Pakistan
Cooperation |
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