Sindh achieves cotton target after a decade

KARACHI Sindh has surprisingly achieved its annual cotton production target ahead of time after nearly a decade, while Punjab has managed to achieve by November 30 only 44% of the target, triggering fears that this year the province might be able to achieve only 55% of the target.

As per the data on the total domestic cotton production released by the Cotton Ginners Association (CGA) by November 30, as many as 7.753 million bales of cotton, or 81% of the total target, have reached the ginning factories nationwide, CGA Chairman Ehsanul Haque told The Express Tribune on Sunday.

During this period, cotton reaching the ginning factories of Punjab increased by 49%, or 3,737,000 bales. Meanwhile, cotton reaching the ginning factories of Sindh went up by 128%, or 4,016,000 bales.

Moreover, 125,000 bales have been exported, and textile mills have purchased 6,755,000 bales from ginning factories, with a foreign firm purchasing an additional 165,000 bales.

Haq attributed the significant decrease in cotton production in Punjab to extremely adverse weather conditions and severe crop damage. "There has been an unusual attack of whitefly, while cotton was also cultivated on less than the stated area," he added.

On the contrary, the record cotton cultivation in the coastal areas of Sindh, combined with the absence of rains during cotton cultivation and picking, resulted in a record increase in cotton production per acre. Moreover, the improved quality has led to a record increase in cotton exports this year.

Haq stated that initially, the domestic production target for the season, year 2023-24, was set at the government level at 10.8 million bales. Out of this, 4 million bales were set for Sindh, while 8.337 million bales for Punjab.

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Surprisingly, Sindh has achieved its target by Nov 30, but Punjab is expected to achieve only 55% of its target this season.

Haq anticipates that, considering the rapidly emerging climatic changes in Pakistan, if the new cotton season starts across the country in February/ March, like the coastal areas of Sindh, the total domestic production in Pakistan may reach around 15 million bales.

However, in Pakistan, the focus is shifting from cotton production to its consumption.

"Textile mills are becoming inactive due to the extraordinary increase in electricity, gas, interest rates on loans, and taxes," he lamented.

Industries across Sindh have announced a shutdown this month in protest against the extraordinary increase in gas prices, raising concerns that this trend may reach Punjab as well.

This situation poses a threat to the country's economy. Therefore, the federal government should take measures, independent of IMF considerations, to ensure that our industries can operate fully, allowing the nation to stand on its own feet.