ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s cotton producers have made a remarkable comeback after suffering massive losses due to last year’s monsoon floods, with the commerce ministry announcing a 71 percent year-on-year growth in the ongoing year by issuing a brief statement on Tuesday.
Cotton is the main raw material of Pakistan’s textile sector which contributes about 60 percent to the overall exports of the country.
Torrential rains during monsoon last year triggered flash flood, destroying people’s houses and farmlands across much of the country.
The situation caused a huge setback to cotton production sector that experienced a 34 percent year-on-year decline, according to the official figures.
However, the ministry said in its statement that the “astounding 71 percent year-on-year growth” had “not only surpassed the previous year’s figures but also exceeded expectations.”
“Cotton arrivals crossing the 5 million bales mark on October 1, 2023, is a momentous achievement for Pakistan,” Dr. Gohar Ejaz, the interim commerce minister, said while commenting on the development. “Last year, our total crop was 5 million bales, and this year, we are anticipating a bumper crop of 12 million bales.”
“This remarkable growth showcases the dedication and hard work of our farmers and the resilience of our cotton industry,” he added.
The minister also promised to support and promote the cotton sector of the country, saying it had always played an “indispensable role” in Pakistan’s economic development and global competitiveness.
According to the textile industry stakeholders, the country’s cotton production has been shrinking in recent years.
“The cotton output in Pakistan is declining mainly due to the climate change-related issues and reduction in the cultivation area,” Chaudhry Waheed Arshad, a top official of Pakistan Cotton Ginners Association, told Arab News earlier this year in January.
Pakistan’s cotton production bounces back after last year’s losses, records 71 percent growth
https://arab.news/vfa3k
Pakistan’s cotton production bounces back after last year’s losses, records 71 percent growth
- The country witnessed a massive decline of 34 percent in cotton production last year due to the floods
- The government calls this year’s production level ‘momentous,’ expects a bumper crop of 12 million bales
Pakistan sets up crisis unit to facilitate citizens amid violent Iran protests
- Protests have taken place across Iran for 13 days in a movement sparked by anger over rising cost of living
- Over 50 protesters have been killed, while authorities imposed a ‘blanket Internet shutdown’ in the country
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has established a crisis management unit to assist its nationals during violent protests in Iran, the Pakistani embassy said late Friday, after Iranians took to the streets in fresh protests.
Protests have taken place across Iran for 13 days in a movement sparked by anger over the rising cost of living that is now marked by calls for the end of the clerical system that has ruled Iran since the 1979 Islamic revolution which ousted the pro-Western shah.
Norway-based NGO Iran Human Rights, raising a previous toll of 45 issued the day earlier, said at least 51 protesters, including nine children, have been killed by security forces and hundreds more injured.
“The Embassy of Pakistan, Tehran has established a crisis management unit to facilitate its citizens,” the embassy said on X, sharing contact numbers for round-the-clock assistance.
It said Pakistani citizens in Iran could reach out to the following officials for any help needed during the protests: Farhan Ali at 00989107648298; Faizan at 00989906824496; and Kashif Ali at 00989938983309.
Pakistanis in Iran could also seek help by dialing in landline numbers: 00982166941388 and 00982166944888.
Friday’s protests followed giant demonstrations on Thursday that were the biggest in Iran since the 2022-2023 protest movement sparked by the custodial death of Mahsa Amini, who had been arrested for allegedly violating the dress rules for women.
The rallies came as Internet monitor NetBlocks said authorities imposed a “nationwide Internet shutdown” for the last 24 hours that was violating the rights of Iranians and “masking regime violence.”
Amnesty International said the “blanket Internet shutdown” aims to “hide the true extent of the grave human rights violations and crimes under international law they are carrying out to crush” the protests.
In his first comments on the escalating protests since January 3, Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Friday called the demonstrators “vandals” and “saboteurs.”
“Everyone knows the Islamic republic came to power with the blood of hundreds of thousands of honorable people, it will not back down in the face of saboteurs,” Khamenei said in a speech broadcast on state TV.
Also on Friday, US President Donald Trump said it looked like Iran’s leaders were “in big trouble” and repeated an earlier threat of military strikes if peaceful protesters are killed.
“It looks to me that the people are taking over certain cities that nobody thought were really possible just a few weeks ago,” Trump said.
