LAHORE: In a blow to the textile backbone, a record-breaking heatwave has triggered fears of a historic plunge in domestic cotton production, forcing ginning factories and textile mills to shut down units across the country.
A mix of soaring temperatures, zero rainfall, and severe canal water shortages–particularly in Sindh–has pushed the cotton crop to the brink of disaster. The unprecedented heat has caused widespread wilting and severe pest infestations like mites and lice, stunting plant growth and heavily compromising both the overall yield and fibre quality. This sudden supply shock has forced the country to brace for a massive surge in expensive cotton imports.
The scarcity of cotton arrivals at processing centres has sent market prices skyrocketing. Lint prices jumped by Rs400 per maund in a single week, reaching Rs18,200 in Punjab and Rs17,700 in Sindh, with brokers warning of further hikes in the coming days.
Compounding the environmental crisis is the industry’s financial strangulation. Sector leaders blame a staggering 86pc sales tax burden on the ginning sector that went entirely unaddressed in the new federal budget. In major cotton hubs like Tando Adam in Sindh, ginning factories have closed down just a month after initiating operations.
