LAHORE: Pakistan’s cotton sector is grappling with a severe crisis as production has plummeted from a record 15 million bales to just 5.5 million, raising alarms across the textile value chain. The shortfall has significantly strained foreign exchange reserves as the country increasingly relies on imported cotton to meet the demands of its textile industry.

Industry stakeholders are urging both federal and provincial governments to enforce crop zoning regulations, reduce input costs for farmers, and slash the high 86pc sales tax on the cotton ginning sector. At the same time, some voices within the sector are calling for a renewed push for hybrid cotton cultivation, a move met with both hope and scepticism.

According to recent reports, around 150 acres of hybrid cotton have already been sown in Punjab and Sindh, shortly after the federal government approved the import of hybrid cotton seed. However, concerns persist about its viability, especially when compared to the more successful hybrid varieties of rice and maize.

© Dawn Business