Cotton production in the country has declined by 17.33 percent as the arrivals recorded at the ginneries as on October 15 stood at 41,73,177 bales, showing a decrease of 17.33 percent from 50,48,243 bales received in the corresponding period of last year.
According to Pakistan Cotton Ginners Association (PCGA) fortnightly report, Punjab, the major cotton producing province, contributed 21,29,575 bales, Sindh contributed 20,37,702 bales and Balochistan 5,909 bales to take the total to 41,73,177 bales. District-wise production data showed that Multan contributed 82,742 bales; Lodhran 26,704 bales, Khanewal 2,55,100 bales, Muzaffargarh 31,467, Dera Ghazi Khan 65,000, Rajanpur 51,550, Layyah 41,500, Vehari 3,10,423 bales, Sahiwal 2,36,100 bales, Pakpattan 1,15,455 bales, Okara 20,900 bales, Kasur 2800 bales, Toba Tek Singh 99,950 bales, Faisalabad 51,400 bales, Jhang 43,850 bales, Mianwali 8000 bales, Bhakkar 27,300 bales, Rahim Yar Khan 1,50,100 bales, Bahawalpur 2,05,634 bales, and Bahawalnagar 2,94,100 bales.
Sindh's district-wise production figures are: Hyderabad 2,16,273 bales, Mirpurkhas 2,35,636 bales, Sanghar 10,01,091 bales, Nawabshah 1,93,618 bales, Naushero Feroze 106,482 bales, Khairpur 1,15,157 bales, Ghotki 18,536 bales, Sukkur 92,991 bales, and Dadu 57,909 bales.
Balochistan added 5,909 bales to the total. The arrivals recorded so far are the lowest figure Pakistan ever had. PCGA claimed that 2 million bales were destroyed in recent floods in Punjab and Sindh. Policy-makers may hope that bumper cotton crop will help the government make deficiency in other areas, taking the annual growth rates to over 7 percent.
PCGA chairman Masud A majeed has demanded of the government to announce relief and bail-out package for cotton ginning factories of flood-hit areas and survey of such areas should be completed very soon. The report said that the ginners pressed 35,41,861 bales. The Trading Corporation of Pakistan lifted no bale, and only 1,28,800 bales were exported by commercial exporters (which were purchased from Sindh), and mere 2000 bales purchased from Pakpattan in Punjab. The textile industry purchased 32,06,890 bales and 8,37,487 bales were available with ginners as unsold stock.