Federal Minister Rana Tanveer Hussain has steered a landmark agreement aimed at revitalizing Pakistan’s cotton sector, resolving a longstanding cotton cess dispute and reinforcing cotton’s vital role in the nation’s textile economy. The Ministry of National Food Security & Research, the All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA), and the Pakistan Central Cotton Committee (PCCC) signed the comprehensive accord during a formal ceremony held at the Ministry’s headquarters in Islamabad.
Minister Rana Tanveer Hussain described the agreement as a historic breakthrough, underscoring cotton’s significance as the backbone of Pakistan’s textile exports and rural development. Emphasizing strategic revival, the Minister stressed the importance of investing in comprehensive agricultural research, seed system reforms, improved agricultural inputs, and robust regulatory oversight to enhance cotton productivity and competitiveness.
Under Minister Hussain’s leadership, the Ministry has prioritized key institutional reforms and actively fostered public-private collaboration. Efforts have included facilitating cotton seed imports, strengthening stakeholder engagement, and promoting consensus-building across the cotton and textile value chains. The Minister affirmed the government’s commitment to transforming the Pakistan Central Cotton Committee (PCCC) into a modern, research-intensive institution that will lead innovation and drive productivity growth in the cotton sector.
He further outlined plans for continued meaningful dialogue between policymakers, industry leaders, and cotton farmers. Minister Hussain announced that he would soon visit the APTMA headquarters in Lahore to further strengthen cooperation and ensure alignment between government initiatives and the textile industry’s policies.
In conclusion, Minister Hussain reaffirmed that reviving Pakistan’s cotton industry transcends agricultural policy considerations alone, representing instead a critical national economic initiative. He pledged his Ministry’s unwavering resolve to implement comprehensive reforms that would firmly reposition Pakistan as a leading global producer and exporter of cotton.
