MULTAN: Cotton production in Punjab is facing a severe setback this season, with alarming shortfalls in the arrival of Phutti (raw cotton) at ginning factories across the province, official data reveals.
Out of the 21 cotton-growing districts in Punjab, 11 have reported a decline in Phutti arrivals as of September 15 compared to the same period last year, according to figures from the Pakistan Cotton Ginners Association (PCGA). In a particularly troubling development, cotton cultivation has completely disappeared in four districts - Kasur, Sargodha, Okara and Pakpattan - where not a single bale has been produced this season.
Among the districts with the most significant year-on-year shortfalls are: Lodhran 64.9pc decline, Muzaffargarh 14.99pc decline, Layyah 20.48pc decline, Sahiwal 24.98pc decline, Toba Tek Singh 11.13pc decline, Jhang 31.18pc decline, Bhakkar 100pc decline (zero production). Experts attribute the crisis to multiple factors, including the intrusion of Indian floodwaters and the widespread use of substandard pesticides and seed varieties. Despite regional setbacks, Pakistan overall has recorded a 39.77pc increase in Phutti arrivals compared to the same period last year. According to PCGA statistics, 2,040,384 bales of Phutti arrived at ginneries across Pakistan by September 15, 2025, compared to 1,430,028 bales during the same period last year. This marks an increase of 570,356 bales, reflecting a 39.77% growth in arrivals year-over-year.
In Punjab, ginneries received 690,254 bales of Phutti by September 15, 2025, compared to 538,686 bales during the same period in 2024. This represents an increase of 151,568 bales, with a growth rate of 28.14% for the province. In Punjab, 212 ginning factories are currently operational, producing 625,161 bales so far. Sindh, with a significant lead, has produced 1,776,316 bales from 216 ginning factories. The district-wise arrival of Phutti shows that 10,847 bales have arrived at ginning factories in Multan district, 5,700 bales in Lodhran district, 86,218 bales in Khanewal district, 9,952 bales in Muzaffargarh district, 94,074 bales in Dera Ghazi Khan district, 28,124 bales in Rajanpur district, 37,234 bales in Layyah district, 114,385 bales in Vehari district, 57,303 bales in Sahiwal district, 42,280 bales in Rahimyar Khan district, 63,870 in Bahawalpur district and 86,725 bales in Bahawalnagar district. In Sindh province, the following quantities of Phutti (seed cotton) have been received by ginning factories: Sanghar district received 778,950 bales, Mirpur Khas 62,900 bales, Nawabshah 47,500 bales, Naushehro Feroze 62,600 bales, Khairpur 41,780 bales, Sukkur 99,600 bales, Jamshoro 28,600 bales, and Hyderabad 96,000 bales. Meanwhile, in Balochistan province, 75,100 bales have arrived at the factories. According to statistics, there is an unsold stock of 325,780 bales of cotton in all the ginning factories.