KARACHI: Initial cotton arrival in Pakistan have improved as per the fortnightly report released by the Pakistan Cotton Ginners Association (PCGA), but fears of a fall in overall production persist amid heat waves, floods and water shortages.
Experts say the country needs a fully-fledged strategy in place for the upcoming cotton season.
According to the report, total cotton arrivals across the country stood at 1.3 million bales as of August 31, 2025 compared to 1.2 million bales on the same date last year. This reflects a national increase of nearly 8.95 percent.
Talking to media about the report, Sajid Mahmood, Head of Technology Transfer Department at the Central Cotton Research Institute Multan, said that while the early increase is encouraging, it would be premature to conclude that overall production will also remain higher this season as weather patterns and flood damage are severely affecting the crop.
Discussing the provincial situation, he explained that Punjab recorded 465,570 bales which is only 2.81 percent higher than last year. Sindh performed comparatively better with arrivals reaching 870,062 bales, a 12.54 percent increase, while Balochistan showed the sharpest rise at 56.32 percent with arrivals of 47,600 bales.
He said although these figures are encouraging, the real outcome in the coming weeks will depend heavily on weather conditions and the later stages of the crop.
Highlighting the challenges facing the crop, he noted that extreme weather like heavy rains, heat waves and floods, coupled with water shortages have placed severe pressure on this vital cash crop.
The cotton curl leaf virus and pink bollworm infestations have also inflicted damage while reduced application of fertilizers – particularly phosphorus, Sulphate of Potash (SOP), urea and nitrogenous fertilizers – has further compounded the situation.
He believes that although fruiting initially appeared promising the heat waves of June and July, coupled with water scarcity, lead to fruit shedding and stunted plant growth.
Floods have further aggravated the situation. According to cautious estimates, cotton production in Punjab could decline by 35 percent.
To date, crops in over 2,100 villages have been destroyed, causing billions of rupees in agricultural losses. Thousands of acres of cotton in Pakpattan, Vehari, Bahawalnagar, Bahawalpur and Rajanpur have been submerged.
Southern Punjab holds a pivotal role in national cotton output, making the losses particularly significant.
When it comes to the situation in Sindh, it is also concerning, with both yield and quality impacted. Owing to water scarcity, only 65 percent of the sowing target was achieved this year, affecting both quantity and quality of production.
Thus while the PCGA report indicates that early arrivals and stock positions are stronger than last year, climate change, flooding and pest attacks make it clear that total production for the 2024-25 season is likely to decline, with direct consequences for the national economy and the textile sector.
Ginning factories and stock levels
Regarding ginning factories, Mahmood said 299 factories are currently operational, compared to 272 last year.
In Punjab, 130 factories are active, representing a 30 percent increase while in Sindh the number stands at 169, a slight decline of 1.74 percent.
Stock levels have shown a remarkable improvement, reaching 200,700 bales compared to just 53,564 bales at the same time last year, an increase of 274.69 percent. However deliveries to the textile sector this year totaled 1,134,932 bales, compared to 1,171,982 bales last year, reflecting a decline of about 3.16 percent.
Future success of the sector will depend on how well farmers and relevant institutions work together, learn from past experience and manage the remaining stages of the crop more effectively to maximize cotton production.
Dr Yusuf Zafar, Vice President of Pakistan Central Cotton Committee (PCCC) and former chairman of Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC), told media that the PCGA figures of the first cotton harvest revealed a very mixed picture.
Productivity during the early season was higher as compared to the last year. The production is 8.95% higher, with Punjab up 2.81 per cent while Sindh and Balochistan showed 12.50 per cent and 56.2 per cent increase respectively.
Pakistan collected 1.335 million bales from 41 lakh acres this year. Last year on this date the arrival of phutti (seedcotton) was 1.225 million bales from 4.5 million acres.
There are some positive developments despite such a dismal situation. A very large area under early (March/ April) cotton season in Punjab was sown with cotton, resulting in higher productivity of 20 maunds phutti/ acre of first pick.
However, the roaring floods now entering Sindh are likely to change these gains. Expected production will be around 4.35 million bales, the lowest in the history of Pakistan.
What can be done?
Experts say that by learning from these experiences, Pakistan can plan better for the next cotton season.
They also said it is essential to complete the merger process of PCCC and PARC at the earliest, which, according to the decision of the Cabinet Division, was scheduled for completion by June 30, 2025.
Similarly, under the agreement signed between PCCC and All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA) on July 9, 2025, at the Ministry of National Food Security and Research, the textile mills have not yet paid even the first installment of the outstanding cotton cess.
The delay in the merger process and in the settlement of cotton cess arrears will hinder cotton research activities and efforts for enhancing production at the federal level, it was noted.
KARACHI: Initial cotton arrival in Pakistan have improved as per the fortnightly report released by the Pakistan Cotton Ginners Association (PCGA), but fears of a fall in overall production persist amid heat waves, floods and water shortages.
Experts say the country needs a fully-fledged strategy in place for the upcoming cotton season.
According to the report, total cotton arrivals across the country stood at 1.3 million bales as of August 31, 2025 compared to 1.2 million bales on the same date last year. This reflects a national increase of nearly 8.95 percent.
Talking to media about the report, Sajid Mahmood, Head of Technology Transfer Department at the Central Cotton Research Institute Multan, said that while the early increase is encouraging, it would be premature to conclude that overall production will also remain higher this season as weather patterns and flood damage are severely affecting the crop.
Discussing the provincial situation, he explained that Punjab recorded 465,570 bales which is only 2.81 percent higher than last year. Sindh performed comparatively better with arrivals reaching 870,062 bales, a 12.54 percent increase, while Balochistan showed the sharpest rise at 56.32 percent with arrivals of 47,600 bales.
He said although these figures are encouraging, the real outcome in the coming weeks will depend heavily on weather conditions and the later stages of the crop.
Highlighting the challenges facing the crop, he noted that extreme weather like heavy rains, heat waves and floods, coupled with water shortages have placed severe pressure on this vital cash crop.
The cotton curl leaf virus and pink bollworm infestations have also inflicted damage while reduced application of fertilizers – particularly phosphorus, Sulphate of Potash (SOP), urea and nitrogenous fertilizers – has further compounded the situation.
He believes that although fruiting initially appeared promising the heat waves of June and July, coupled with water scarcity, lead to fruit shedding and stunted plant growth.
Floods have further aggravated the situation. According to cautious estimates, cotton production in Punjab could decline by 35 percent.
To date, crops in over 2,100 villages have been destroyed, causing billions of rupees in agricultural losses. Thousands of acres of cotton in Pakpattan, Vehari, Bahawalnagar, Bahawalpur and Rajanpur have been submerged.
Southern Punjab holds a pivotal role in national cotton output, making the losses particularly significant.
When it comes to the situation in Sindh, it is also concerning, with both yield and quality impacted. Owing to water scarcity, only 65 percent of the sowing target was achieved this year, affecting both quantity and quality of production.
Thus while the PCGA report indicates that early arrivals and stock positions are stronger than last year, climate change, flooding and pest attacks make it clear that total production for the 2024-25 season is likely to decline, with direct consequences for the national economy and the textile sector.
Ginning factories and stock levels
Regarding ginning factories, Mahmood said 299 factories are currently operational, compared to 272 last year.
In Punjab, 130 factories are active, representing a 30 percent increase while in Sindh the number stands at 169, a slight decline of 1.74 percent.
Stock levels have shown a remarkable improvement, reaching 200,700 bales compared to just 53,564 bales at the same time last year, an increase of 274.69 percent. However deliveries to the textile sector this year totaled 1,134,932 bales, compared to 1,171,982 bales last year, reflecting a decline of about 3.16 percent.
Future success of the sector will depend on how well farmers and relevant institutions work together, learn from past experience and manage the remaining stages of the crop more effectively to maximize cotton production.
Dr Yusuf Zafar, Vice President of Pakistan Central Cotton Committee (PCCC) and former chairman of Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC), told media that the PCGA figures of the first cotton harvest revealed a very mixed picture.
Productivity during the early season was higher as compared to the last year. The production is 8.95% higher, with Punjab up 2.81 per cent while Sindh and Balochistan showed 12.50 per cent and 56.2 per cent increase respectively.
Pakistan collected 1.335 million bales from 41 lakh acres this year. Last year on this date the arrival of phutti (seedcotton) was 1.225 million bales from 4.5 million acres.
There are some positive developments despite such a dismal situation. A very large area under early (March/ April) cotton season in Punjab was sown with cotton, resulting in higher productivity of 20 maunds phutti/ acre of first pick.
However, the roaring floods now entering Sindh are likely to change these gains. Expected production will be around 4.35 million bales, the lowest in the history of Pakistan.
What can be done?
Experts say that by learning from these experiences, Pakistan can plan better for the next cotton season.
They also said it is essential to complete the merger process of PCCC and PARC at the earliest, which, according to the decision of the Cabinet Division, was scheduled for completion by June 30, 2025.
Similarly, under the agreement signed between PCCC and All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA) on July 9, 2025, at the Ministry of National Food Security and Research, the textile mills have not yet paid even the first installment of the outstanding cotton cess.
The delay in the merger process and in the settlement of cotton cess arrears will hinder cotton research activities and efforts for enhancing production at the federal level, it was noted.
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