Pakistan’s cotton sector is facing a multifaceted yet resolvable crisis, rooted in systemic weaknesses such as lack of coordination among research institutions, institutional silos, the dominance of vested interests, and a critical gap in information exchange.

The Pakistan Central Cotton Committee (PCCC), the apex body for cotton research and development, has been rendered ineffective due to chronic financial and administrative constraints. As a result, national cotton production has plummeted from 15 million bales to a mere 5 million.

Despite the presence of over 22 public and private research institutions and more than 1,200 seed companies working on cotton, their efforts remain fragmented. In the absence of a coherent, unified strategy, these entities have failed to produce meaningful results.

It would be inaccurate to claim that Pakistan lacks research infrastructure or funding. The country is equipped with a sufficient number of institutions and resources that, if effectively managed, could form a robust scientific foundation. The real challenge lies in poor coordination, absence of collective policy, and institutional rivalries, which have severely hindered scientific progress.

Moreover, although significant research and policy........

© Business Recorder