Country's reliance on imported cotton on the rise.

Owing to unavailability of high quality cotton in Pakistan, the country's textile industry is becoming increasingly reliant on imported fibre. The cotton imported from the United States has been greatly helping the textile industry cope with challenges such as high production costs and compliance requirements. Consequently, the cotton import from the US is rapidly increasing.

According to statistics released by the US cotton promoter - the Cotton Council International (CCI), the number of textile mills and garment manufacturers importing US cotton in Pakistan has greatly increased over the past six years. In 2012, big spinning and weaving units with US licence as well as textile manufacturers including those producing yarn and fabric were limited to six or seven. The number increased to 36 by 2018...