At least 40 new ginning factories have been added at an investment of more than three billion rupees during the year to enhance ginning capacity in the country, cotton trade sources said. Chairman Cotton Brokers Forum Naseem Usman said here Wednesday that existing ginning factories have also expanded their capacity whereas land has been acquired for 20 more ginning factories.
He said that out of 40 new ginning factories, some 30 have been set up in Sindh while rest in Punjab. Giving a break up, he said that 15 ginning factories have been established in Sanghar district, seven in Mirpurkhas, while eight factories in Hyderabad and Kotri. Four ginning factories are ready for operation in Chicha Watani, four in Burewala, and one each in Layyah, Arifwala and Mianwali, he added.
Usman said that the high prices of cotton and rising demand for ginning in the country has encouraged the investors to set up new ginning factories. These factories will help in handling the bumper crop of cotton in the country which is estimated at over 15 million
bales this year, he observed.