Currently, Pakistan is facing economic challenges. Although the present government is implementing positive measures to address these issues, our national development and prosperity will remain elusive until we break free from the grip of the IMF.
To achieve economic stability and prosperity, we must prioritize agriculture and take urgent steps towards modern agricultural research. Unfortunately, there is a lack of focus on research, particularly in the cotton sector.
Until the 1990s, India lagged behind Pakistan in cotton production. However, today, India not only surpassed Pakistan but also topped the global ranking with 34.7 million bales of cotton in the 2023-24 season, accounting for 25% of the world’s total production.
India has become the largest producer of cotton, while Pakistan’s production remains at barely 8-9 million bales, making it the fifth largest producer with a share of only 4-5% in the global production. India has solid plans to increase its cotton production to over 40 million bales by 2030, while Pakistan faces uncertainty due to factors affecting cotton cultivation and production.
The Indus River System Authority (IRSA) report indicates a 35% water shortage this year, leading the Punjab department to reduce the target for cotton cultivation from 5 million acres to 4 million acres. Additionally, the area dedicated to sugarcane and paddy crops is rapidly increasing in cotton-cultivated areas. Unfortunately, the government has not yet announced the support price for cotton.
In contrast, India has fixed support prices for 31 crops, while we have not fixed the support price for any crop except wheat or sugarcane. Today, the sectors with the potential to rescue Pakistan from IMF dependency are cotton research institutes and the textile industry.
However, unfortunately, the government’s........