COTTON, often called Pakistan’s “white gold,” has long been the backbone of the country’s agriculture and textile economy. It is not merely a cash crop but the principal raw material for the textile industry, Pakistan’s largest manufacturing sector and leading source of export earnings. Millions of farmers, labourers, ginners, traders and textile workers depend directly or indirectly on cotton for their livelihoods. Any decline in cotton production therefore affects employment, industrial output, exports and the country’s overall economic stability.

Unfortunately, Pakistan’s cotton sector has experienced a persistent decline during the past decade. Once ranked among the world’s leading cotton producers, Pakistan has slipped to around the ninth or tenth position globally. Cotton production during the 2025-26 season remained at only about 5.6 million........

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