Why Did Pakistan Have to Bow to India for Cotton and Sugar?

Pakistan's Economic Co-ordination Committee has approved the import of cotton and yarn from India. Reuters quoted unnamed sources as saying that Pakistan's largest organization related to economic affairs considered the possibility of importing cotton, cotton yarn and sugar from India on Wednesday afternoon. According to reports, this institution, which takes important economic decisions in Pakistan, has also allowed the private sector to import 5 lakh tonnes of sugar from India. Trade between India and Pakistan was closed for the last two years, but now trade is going to start between the two countries once again. But, the question is why the trade between India and Pakistan stopped and now Imran Khan wants to start the business. In fact, Pakistan's decision to end the ban on trade with India has come when the Pakistani textile industry is short of raw materials. In the neighboring country, this situation has happened due to the fall in cotton yield. Along with this, the import of cotton from countries like America and Brazil was becoming very expensive for Pakistan and the import was also taking a lot of time. On 29 March, Abdul Rajak Dawood, Finance and Investment Affairs Advisor to Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan, tweeted, "There has been a discussion with Prime Minister Imran Khan on the skyrocketing prices of cotton yarn."

Abdul Razak Dawood said, "The Pakistani Prime Minister has said that all steps should be taken to import cotton yarn from across the border, including the import of cotton through transport, so that the yarn can be made as soon as possible To reduce pressure on trade and keep pace with exports. Let us know that Pakistan imports large quantities of cotton from India. In 2018-19, Pakistan has raised more than $ 550.33 million ($ 55 million) from India. Had imported cotton.

In addition, organic chemicals worth more than $ 457.75 million ($ 457 million) were also imported from India by the neighboring country. The import of all these products constitutes half of Pakistan's imports from India. However, in 2019-20, India's cotton exports to Pakistan had dropped very fast and only $ 64 million ($ 6.4 million) was traded. As far as sugar is concerned, trade experts believe that both countries have long been This is the result of dependence on each other and lack of sugar in Pakistan is also a reason. Interestingly, between July-February 2020-21, Pakistan's sugar imports increased by 6,296 percent to 278,733 MT, compared to 4,358 MT during the same period in the financial year 2019-20. Talking about the price, Pakistan has spent more than $ 126.99 million (about $ 12 million) on the import of sugar.

On March 2, Dawood shared Pakistan's trade data, tweeting, "This year also the expenditure on imports has increased, because to control the market price we have to import wheat and sugar as well." Professor Nisha Taneja, India's Regional Trade Affairs Specialist at the Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations, said, "There has been a dependence between the two countries on sugar. One thing is that Pakistan also produces sugar and so does India. , If there is a shortage of sugar in them, then India supplies and if there is a shortage in us, Pakistan supplies it. "

He said, "We have a very small list of products to import from Pakistan, even then agricultural products are at the top of Pakistan's import list." Prior to cotton and sugar, in May 2020, Pakistan approved the import of medicines and other medical equipment from India, so that supplies of essential medicines and equipment could continue during the Corona virus epidemic. After India has approved the export of cotton and sugar, now Pakistan will import 3 products from India on a large scale.

Explain that between April 2020 to January 2021, Pakistan imported organic chemical and pharmaceutical products worth $ 183.18 million (over 183 million dollars) from India.

Why Are Political Parties And Farmers Opposing The Agricultural Bills?

In the Rajya Sabha on Sunday, two controversial bills related to agriculture were approved amidst loud uproar. After which many farmers' organizations and political parties took to the streets in protest. While the Modi government is describing these bills to empower the farmers, the opposition and millions of farmers are protesting that farmers will be forced into the corporate houses after this bill. At the same time, some farmers are confused with the politicization of this whole matter; their demand is that the government should remove the farmers' apprehensions and tell the farmers what benefit from this bill.

What is the Bill, and Why is it Protesting:

1. Two bills related to agriculture have been approved in the Rajya Sabha on Sunday, with the signing of President Ram Nath Kovind, it will take the form of law. The bills that have been approved include the Agricultural Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill-2020 and the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Price Assurance Agreement and the Agreements Bill-2020 on Agricultural Services.

2. Under the Agricultural Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Simplification) Bill, 2020, farmers or traders will be able to trade their produce outside the market through other means easily.

3. According to this bill, farmers will be able to trade their produce in any part of the country, within the state limits or outside the state. Arrangements will be made for this. Apart from mandis, there will be freedom to do business in fields like a farmgate, warehouse, cold storage, processing units. To eliminate the middlemen, a direct relationship will be established with farmers from processors, exporters, and organized retailers.

4. The number of small farmers in India is high, about 85 percent of the farmers have less than two hectares of land, so they had difficulty talking to big buyers. For this, they either depended on big farmers or mediators. It was not possible to get the right price for the crop at the right time. After these bills, he will be able to do his business quickly.

5. The Agreement on Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Price Assurance and Agricultural Services directly connects farmers to traders, companies, processing units, exporters. It assures the farmer to determine its price before sowing and before the sowing through the agricultural agreement. The farmer will have complete freedom in the contract; he will sell the produce by fixing the price according to his wish. Ten thousand farmer producing groups are being formed in the country. These FPOs will work towards adding small farmers and giving their crops a fair profit in the market.

6. The new bill does not remove the minimum support price (MSP) (PM Narendra Modi has said that the MSP is not being eliminated), but to allow 'outside man' to fix the crop Farmers' price are apprehensive.

7. Amid these concerns of farmers, state governments - especially Punjab and Haryana - are fearing that if private buyers buy grain directly from the farmers, they will lose the tax they get in the mandis.

8. The government has announced the crops' minimum support price amidst a fierce battle over the agrarian reform bills. The economic affairs committee of Binet has approved this. Given the concern of farmers, the minimum support price was approved a month ago. The government has increased the MSP from Rs 50 to Rs 300 per quintal. FCI and other government agencies will purchase their grain from farmers at the MSP.

9. According to Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar, the MSP of gram has been increased by Rs 225 per quintal for the Rabi season, and it has increased to Rs 5100 per quintal. The minimum support price of lentils has been increased by Rs 300 per quintal, and it has been increased to Rs 5100 per quintal. He said that the mustard MSP had been increased by Rs 225 per quintal, and it has increased to Rs 4650 per quintal. This has been increased to Rs 1600 per quintal after the minimum support price of barley has been increased by Rs 75 and by Rs 112 per quintal in MSP of safflower to Rs 5327 per quintal.

10. Praising the agricultural bills, the PM said that 'till now the system of selling the product, which was the law, was tying the farmers' hands and feet. Under the guise of these laws, such powerful gangs were born in the country, taking advantage of the farmers' helplessness.

_pk_Nobody_  

Rajnath Singh Told What Happened At LAC, How Are Indian Soldiers Prepared?

Defense Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday stated in the Lok Sabha on the tension between India-China on the Line of Actual Control Line (LAC) in Ladakh. On the issue of tension with China, the opposition has constantly been demanding statements from the government. Come, know the big things about the statement of the Defense Minister.

In the Lok Sabha, Rajnath Singh said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi went to Ladakh and met military personnel. He had also given the message that he is standing with brave soldiers. I, too, went to Ladakh and spent time with the jawans. I want to tell you that he also felt his courage, bravery, and valor. You know, Colonel Santosh made the supreme sacrifice while protecting the motherland.

On the agreement with China, Rajnath Singh said that it had been said that the Line of Actual Control Line would not be breached until the border is completely resolved. From 1990-2003, an effort was made to make a joint agreement between two countries, but China did not move in this direction. April saw an increase in Chinese troops and weapons along the Ladakh border. Our patrol was obstructed by the Chinese army, due to which it has been located. The Defense Minister said that the brave soldiers have caused heavy damage to the Chinese army and guarded the border. The soldiers showed valor where valor was needed and kept peace where peace was needed.

- Defense Minister Rajnath Singh said during his statement in the Lok Sabha that China believes that both countries have different interpretations of the traditional line. The two countries were talking about it in the 1950-60s, but no solution was found. China had occupied some land in Ladakh long ago; in addition, Pakistan also handed over some land of PoK to China, which is a big issue. Its solution should be peaceful and negotiated. It is important to maintain peace on the border.

Rajnath Singh said that since 1988 there was development in bilateral relations between the two countries. India believes that bilateral relations can also develop, and the border can also be settled. However, it can also have an impact on bilateral relations.

- Rajnath Singh stressed on peace between India and China. He said that both should maintain the old condition. Peace and harmony must be ensured. China also says the same thing, but then on the night of 29-30 August, China again attempted to infiltrate into Pangong, but our military personnel failed this attempt.

- The Defense Minister said in the Lok Sabha that I want to assure the House that the borders are safe and our soldiers are vigilant in protecting the motherland. Rapid deployment of armed forces and ITBP has been done. In the last several decades, China has started large scale infrastructure development activities. In response to this, the government has also increased its budget for border area development.

- Rajnath Singh said that India is committed to resolving disputes in the border areas peacefully. I put the situation before the Defense Minister of China on the 4th. I also said that we want to resolve this issue peacefully. We also said that we are fully committed to protecting the integrity and sovereignty of India.

_pk_Nobody_