Despite recent floods and a decline in cotton production , Pakistan has managed to maintain its position among the world's leading cotton-producing countries, a development experts view as encouraging for the country's textile sector.

According to reports, Pakistan remains among the top five cotton producers globally, a positive sign not only for the national economy but also for the textile industry, which serves as a major source of employment, exports, and foreign exchange earnings.

The United Nations marks World Cotton Day each year on October 7 to highlight the crop's role in economic development, trade, and poverty reduction. This year's theme,“Weaving a Better Future”, underscores the significance of cotton in improving millions of lives across the world.

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Globally, cotton is the second most widely used fiber after polyester, accounting for about 20 percent of total textile demand. Nearly 80 percent of cotton is used in apparel, while the remaining is utilized in home textiles and industrial goods.

Worldwide, around 24 million farmers are directly involved in cotton production, and the crop provides livelihood to over 100 million families, particularly in developing countries where it plays a key role in income generation and exports.

In Pakistan, most cotton is grown in Punjab and Sindh, though the federal government has also initiated efforts to promote cultivation in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Punjab alone contributes 68.5 percent of national output, with around 1.5 million farmers cultivating cotton, 90 percent of whom own less than five hectares of land.

The country's textile industry employs over 40 percent of the industrial workforce, contributes 8 percent to GDP, and accounts for 60 percent of total exports, providing livelihoods to nearly 10 million people.

Currently, Pakistan has 1,050 ginneries, 430 textile mills, and 350 cottonseed oil extraction units operating nationwide. Together, they play a vital role in stabilizing the cotton sector and supporting the country's economic growth.

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