Due to climate change, Pakistan’s cotton production has plummeted, increasing cotton imports. In January 2025, manufacturers received 5.51 million bales of cotton, down 34% from the previous year. Punjab, the nation’s top cotton producer, produced 2.7 million bales, down 36%.
Former cotton commissioner Khalid Abdullah blames weather shifts for this drop. After February 15, cotton farmers suffered unexpected temperature dips and rainfall, requiring costly replanting. Re-sowing increased costs and shortened virus-free growth, reducing output. Market price swings and lack of government support deterred farmers from investing in fertilizers and plant protection, worsening the production shortage.
The cotton scarcity threatens Pakistan’s textile industry, which exported $16.7 billion in 2024. Analysts expect the cotton import bill to rise to $5 billion to fulfill industrial demands, hurting the economy.
This situation emphasizes Pakistan’s need to strengthen its climatic resilience and help its agricultural sectors under global climate change.
