Multan– In response to Pakistan’s declining cotton production and shrinking cultivation area, the Pakistan Central Cotton Committee (PCCC) and CottonConnect jointly organized the first National Cotton Revival Conference at a private hotel in Multan. The conference aimed to develop a sustainable and long-term roadmap for revitalizing the cotton value chain by addressing key challenges through strategic interventions. It brought together government representatives, senior officials, agricultural experts, industry leaders, research institutions, and farmer organizations.
Experts unanimously highlighted the critical role of cotton in Pakistan’s economy and expressed serious concerns over its decreasing production. They emphasized the urgent need for comprehensive policy reforms, including the development of high-yield and climate-resilient seed varieties, efficient irrigation systems, and enhanced farmer support programs. Additionally, the importance of incorporating modern technology at every stage of the cotton value chain was underscored to strengthen production, processing, trade, and exports.
Speaking at the conference, Member of National Assembly Rana Qasim Noon stressed the necessity of urgent actions to restore cotton production. He advocated for providing financial resources to research institutions and integrating PCCC with the Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC). Provincial Assembly Member Rana Iqbal Siraj welcomed the initiative and suggested imposing restrictions on sugarcane and rice cultivation in the cotton belt to safeguard cotton farming.
Federal Secretary for National Food Security & Research, Wasim Ajmal Chaudhry, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to addressing the challenges in cotton production. He emphasized collaborative efforts among stakeholders and assured that the Ministry of National Food Security would work closely with other institutions to ensure the cotton sector remains globally competitive and sustainable.
Adviser to the International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC), Dr. Eric, discussed ICAC’s global efforts in improving cotton production, tackling climate change challenges, and supporting trade policies. He highlighted ICAC’s role in assisting Pakistan through technical expertise, improved seed varieties, and advanced agricultural practices.
Director General of Green Pakistan Initiative, Major General (R) Shahid Nazir, emphasized restoring barren lands, providing modern agricultural machinery, and establishing agri-malls to support cotton farmers. Similarly, Major General Muhammad Ayub Ahsan Bhatti, Director General of the Land Information and Management System (LIMS), highlighted the significance of efficient land management. He stressed that modernizing land record systems and optimizing resource utilization through LIMS would contribute significantly to improving cotton productivity.
Allison Ward, CEO of CottonConnect, addressed the conference virtually, emphasizing the need for sustainable cotton production. She highlighted CottonConnect’s initiatives in training small farmers, improving water management, promoting organic farming, and increasing female participation in the cotton sector.
During the conference, Vice President of the Pakistan Central Cotton Committee, Dr. Yousaf Zafar, emphasized the importance of joint efforts to revive the cotton industry. He highlighted the role of research, innovation, and new technologies in overcoming production challenges such as climate change and water scarcity.
Prominent industry experts and stakeholders, including Dr. Khalid Hameed (Tara Group), Dr. Anjum Ali Butter (Cotton Consultant Punjab), Arif Hameed Makhdoom (CottonConnect), Dr. Farukh Hassan (MBT), Naseer Khan (Fatima Fertilizers), Dr. Iqbal Bandesha (Avial Group), Khalid Khokhar (President Pakistan Kisan Ittehad), and Dr. Babar Bajwa (CABI), shared insights on cotton industry challenges and solutions.
Additional speakers, including Dr. Jasu Mal T. Limani (Chairman PCGA), Kanwar Usman (Director Textiles ICAC), Mudassir Raza Siddiqui (DG Textiles, Ministry of Commerce), Dr. Yousaf Ali (Surti Group), and Professor Dr. Asif Ali (Chairman NSDRA), discussed issues related to ginning, global trade dynamics, sustainable cotton practices, and seed innovations.
The conference concluded with Dr. Yousaf Zafar and Abubakar from CottonConnect thanking all participants. Sustainable Cotton Platform will be established under PCCC supported by CottonConnect. Primark, BCI, OCA, FairTrade, PCGA, APTMA, Farmers, Govt departments and others will be members of this group.Experts reaffirmed their commitment to collaborative efforts for revitalizing Pakistan’s cotton industry. They stressed the importance of sustainability, modern technology, and policy reforms to overcome production challenges. Participants agreed that a strong partnership among the government, private sector, and farmers is crucial to restoring the cotton sector’s vital role in Pakistan’s economy.
