LAHORE: Multan and Dera Ghazi Khan divisions have achieved 81 percent and 93 percent, respectively, of the cotton sowing targets assigned by the Punjab Agriculture Department (PAD) for the current season.
According to official figures, the department had set a target to cultivate cotton over 775,000 acres in Multan division and more than 425,000 acres in Dera Ghazi Khan Division. The progress was reviewed during a meeting on cotton sowing held in Multan under the chairmanship of Secretary Agriculture Punjab, Iftikhar Ali Sahoo.
The meeting was attended by Commissioner Multan Aamir Karim Khan, Special Secretary Agriculture South Punjab Sarfraz Hussain Magsi, Director Generals Agriculture Punjab Abdul Hameed, Naveed Asmat Kahloon and Dr Aamir Rasool, along with officers of the Irrigation Department, Dr Muhammad Iqbal Bandesha, Asif Majeed, Khalid Mahmood Khokhar, Muhammad Ilyas and other stakeholders.
Commissioner Dera Ghazi Khan Chaudhry Ashfaq Ahmed and deputy commissioners of the relevant districts also joined the meeting online. Addressing the participants, the Secretary Agriculture said enhanced cotton production was the guarantee of farmers’ prosperity. He appreciated the cooperation extended by divisional and district administrations in achieving cotton cultivation targets.
He directed field formations to fully utilise their professional capabilities in guiding farmers so that production targets could be achieved successfully. Sahoo further said that the availability of fertilisers at officially notified prices in markets was being ensured, while indiscriminate action against those involved in the adulteration of agricultural pesticides was continuing across the province.
He added that, in consultation with experts and keeping in view the prevailing weather conditions, a fresh cotton advisory would soon be issued to provide timely guidance to farmers.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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