Pakistan’s cotton crisis deepens as production plunges 34%

Pakistan’s cotton production has suffered a severe blow, with output dropping 34.17 per cent to 5.524 million bales this year, down from 8.393 million bales last year, according to the Pakistan Cotton Ginners Association (PCGA) report. Punjab, the top-producing province, saw a drastic 48.16 per cent decline, while Sindh’s output fell by 15.71 per cent.

Key factors behind this decline include climate change, shrinking cultivation area, water shortages, high input costs, and weak policies. The shortfall has created a raw material crisis for the textile industry, forcing Pakistan to import $5 billion worth of cotton, adding pressure on the economy.

The textile sector purchased 92.55 per cent of the available cotton, but exports and trader demand remained weak. Unsold stockpiles surged by 75.37 per cent, indicating market instability. Ginning factories also suffered, with only 39 units operational.

Experts stress the need for immediate reforms, including R&D investment, policy support, and a fixed support price to encourage cotton farming. Without urgent intervention, Pakistan’s cotton sector may face further decline, jeopardizing the textile industry and economic stability.