The cotton industry in Pakistan is getting the help of the International Cotton Association (ICA) especially in regard to the issues faced by Pakistani cotton buyers.

Pakistan is emerging as a cotton importing country but importers are not fully aware of ICA rules and their rights as buyers.

ICA is visiting Pakistan to learn at first-hand how current market conditions, logistic challenges and retail demands are affecting the cotton trade and Pakistan’s textile manufacturers are being updated about the best global practices in the cotton and textile trade being adopted by various countries to meet the new challenges.

Pakistan is an important textile country in South Asia, having a significant ICA membership and playing a major international role in yarn and textile manufacturing. Cotton is an important cash crop for Pakistan and a major raw material for its textile industry, representing 75 percent in the fiber mix of the textile industry products.

The industry provides livelihood to 25 million people in Pakistan. The present demand for cotton in Pakistan is at least 13 million bales. Cotton production in Pakistan has dropped to less than eight million bales this year due to water shortage, fake pesticides, and poor pest management.