Islamabad, Dec 7 (IANS): Pakistan has rejected a consignment of 10,000 bales of Indian cotton worth $3.3 million, the media reported on Wednesday.

The shipment of ginned cotton at Karachi Port was rejected by the Ministry of National Food Security and Research Department of Plant Protection as it was imported in violation of the country's Plant Quarantine rules, Dawn online reported.

The consignment would be returned to India.

The rejection sent shock waves in the textile industry which has been striving for permission to import cotton from India.

Last year, 2.7 million bales of cotton was imported from India to make up for the shortfall after crop failure.

According to officials, the private sector has imported around 1.2 million bales of cotton from various countries. Orders for around 0.3 million bales of Indian cotton have been placed.

According to the textile industry, the cotton imported from countries other than India was cleared by the customs authorities without any issue.

A senior official from All Pakistan Textile Mills Association criticised the government policy of not allowing cotton imports from India.

"The industry needs around four million bales of imported cotton this year to meet the supply shortfalls," he said.

Pakistan expects to produce around 10.05 million bales of cotton this year against an estimated demand of 15 million bales.