LAHORE: The latest report issued by the Pakistan Cotton Ginners Association (PCGA) highlighted the severity of the cotton crisis in the country. According to the report as of 30th November 2025 the total cotton arrivals stood at 5,133,620 bales which is 57,105 bales less than last year’s 5,190,725 bales marking an overall decline of 1.10 percent. Sindh received 2,784,373 bales this year which is 53,332 bales more than last year while Punjab recorded 2,349,247 bales showing a decline of 110,437 bales or 4.49 percent. He stated that these figures point to both production challenges and provincial disparities.
Sajid Mahmood, Head of Technology Transfer Department, Central Cotton Research Institute Multan while talking to Business Recorder said that several fundamental factors are responsible for the low cotton production. The most critical issue is the absence of a support price which forces farmers due to inadequate profitability to shift towards more lucrative crops such as sugarcane and rice. Climate change unpredictable rainfall extreme heat and drought have further damaged the crop. Additionally pests such as whitefly and pink bollworm have caused severe losses underscoring the urgent need for modern pest-resistant genetically improved varieties.
Discussing stock positions he noted that 667,257 cotton bales currently remain unsold in the country including 509,830 pressed and 157,427 un-ginned bales. A total of 4,466,363 bales have been sold to textile mills traders and exporters compared to 4,513,478 bales during the same period last year. Presently 385 ginning factories are operational nationwide including 206 in Punjab and 179 in Sindh. He added that these facts clearly indicate that the country’s textile industry requires over 15 million bales annually which means low domestic production forces Pakistan to spend billions of dollars on cotton imports.
Sajid Mahmood emphasised the need for concrete and implementable policies to address this situation. He said that comprehensive guidance on support price mechanisms crop prioritization climate risks and crop substitution is essential. Such policies will not only protect farmers but also ensure a stable supply of raw materials to the textile sector.
Speaking about research and development he stated that the Pakistan Central Cotton Committee (PCCC) and other research institutions require substantial investment in modern technologies genetic research pest-resistant seed development and advanced agronomic practices. He added that under current circumstances the merger of PCCC and PARC has become more important than ever so that research resources can be consolidated and an effective national strategy can be formulated.
In conclusion Sajid Mahmood stressed that Pakistan’s cotton industry has been under continuous pressure for several years and the only viable way out of this crisis is through joint efforts by the government research institutions and the private sector.
He said that with focused attention on modern genetic varieties investment active research and a strong policy framework a significant increase in domestic production and a substantial reduction in import burden is achievable.
“This is the time to restore cotton as the backbone of the national economy and reclaim Pakistan’s position in the global market,” he added.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
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