Just recently, the prime minister constituted a 15-member committee tasked with formulating policy and administrative measures to revive cotton production in the country. Once a net exporter, Pakistan touched a production peak of 13.96 million bales in 2014-15. Since then, however, output has experienced a dramatic downturn, plummeting to just 5.5m bales in 2024-25 — 50 per cent below target and 34pc lower than last year’s yields.

This sharp decline has forced the country to import raw cotton worth $1.56 billion in July-January (FY25) — nearly double the $0.723bn spent during the same period in FY24 — to sustain its textile and garment industry. Unfortunately, the rising imports of raw cotton, along with edible oil, are further depleting Pakistan’s already strained foreign exchange reserves.

The sharp decline in cotton production is attributed to both falling crop yields and a shrinking cultivated area. Over the past decade (FY15 to FY25), yields have dropped from 802kg to 475kg per hectare, driven by substandard seed varieties, ineffective pesticides, and climate change.

Additionally, farmers have struggled to secure fair cotton prices in line with rising production costs. Price distortions caused by the Export Facilitation Scheme — which allows duty-free imports of cotton, yarn, and fabric while domestically produced cotton and yarn remain subject to an 18pc sales tax — have adversely affected the farmers and ginners alike.

Cotton revival will remain a pipe dream unless farmers’ earnings match or exceed those of alternative crops

Consequently, cotton acreage........

© Dawn Business