All Pakistan Textile Mills Association has warned that Pakistan could lose another cotton season as delays continue in implementing the cotton revival reforms approved by a high-powered committee led by Ishaq Dar in October 2025. The textile industry fears that continued inaction may further increase the country’s dependence on costly cotton imports and place additional pressure on Pakistan’s external financing requirements.
In a letter dated May 20, 2026, Aptma Chairperson Kamran Arshad informed Deputy Prime Minister Muhammad Ishaq Dar that key reforms approved during the sixth meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Essential and Cash Crops had still not been implemented. Moreover, the association stated that repeated reminders had failed to produce practical progress despite the ongoing cotton sowing season already being underway across major agricultural regions.
Read more : Cotton prices jump as Pakistan starts early ginning season
The approved reform package included restructuring the Pakistan Central Cotton Committee into a new Pakistan Cotton Advisory Council with industry-led governance and stronger operational authority. In addition, the committee had approved shifting cotton cess collection to the Federal Board of Revenue while allocating nearly 70% of cess funds specifically for cotton research and development initiatives aimed at improving productivity.
According to official meeting records issued by the Ministry of National Food Security and Research, authorities were also directed to provide majority industry representation within the new governance framework and complete institutional arrangements quickly. However, Aptma stated that more than six months after approval, no official notifications, legal framework or operational implementation measures had been introduced by the relevant authorities.
Read more : Cotton Revival Faces Tough Reality in Pakistan
The association further revealed that officials had assured implementation before the beginning of the cotton season during a January 29 meeting with Food Security Minister Rana Tanveer Hussain, yet no significant developments followed afterward. Therefore, Aptma has demanded immediate activation of the Pakistan Cotton Advisory Council, legal amendments for FBR-led cess collection, industry-led governance reforms and a clear implementation timeline to avoid further sectoral decline.
Pakistan’s cotton sector has struggled for years due to climate pressures, weak seed quality, pest attacks, inconsistent policymaking and poor research performance, resulting in declining domestic cotton production and rising imports. Industry stakeholders warned that if delays continue during the current sowing season, Pakistan could once again face billions of dollars in additional cotton import costs while undermining long-term revival efforts.