Pakistani Cotton
Cotton is one of the world’s most important natural fibres. It’s used by nearly everyone on Earth every day, and supports 250 million people’s livelihoods. The history of cotton was inextricably linked to the subcontinent and some of the earliest traces of cotton cultivation became more widespread during the Indus Valley Civilisation, which covered parts of present day Pakistan. Pakistan's semi-arid climate was well suited to the demands of this small plant that was used to make fabrics and that clothe millions of people all over the world.
Use of cotton cloth in the Indus Valley cities of Mohenjo-daro and Harappa dates to 2,500 BC. Cotton pollen has been recorded at Balakot. At Harappa (Mature Harappan period 2500-2000 BC), evidence of cotton threads has been found tied to the handle of a mirror, an antiquity from a female burial site, and around a copper razor.
Pakistan is a major player on the world cotton scene and is the fourth largest producer of cotton in the world, and importantly also holds the third largest spinning capacity in Asia (after China and India) with thousands of ginning and spinning units producing textile products from cotton. Consumption-wise it holds the fourth position (about 30 and 40 per cent of its production). It is the largest exporter of cotton yarn.
In a bid to further improve its export volumes the Pakistan government also launched Cotton Vision 2015: a drive to boost production to 20 million bales in the next four years. For global supply and demand of Better Cotton in the future, Pakistan is a key strategic country and Better Cotton Initiative (BCI) have established a regional office to proactively manage the Better Cotton relationships in the country.
