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Pakistan's Cotton Reform Stalls in Bureaucratic Gridlock, Merger Delayed

Pakistan's plan to merge key cotton research bodies to revive the sector is stuck in bureaucratic limbo despite receiving legal clearance. The delay, blamed on administrative inertia, has drawn criticism from farmer representatives who accuse officials of prioritizing perks over research. The merger is further complicated by a long-standing funding dispute, as textile mills stopped payments a decade ago over concerns of fund misuse. Despite a directive from Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar to accelerate the process, no visible progress has been made.

Key Points: Pakistan Cotton Committee Merger Stalls in Bureaucratic Limbo

  • Merger cleared by law ministry but stalled
  • Bureaucratic inertia blamed for delay
  • Funding dispute with textile mills halts research
  • Directive from Deputy PM fails to spur action
2 min read

Bureaucratic gridlock derails cotton reform as key merger stalls in Pakistan

Key merger to revive Pakistan's cotton sector is stuck despite legal clearance, exposing governance inefficiencies and funding disputes with textile mills.

"prioritising perks over research funding - Khalid Mahmood Khokhar"

Lahore, March 24

Pakistan's efforts to revive its declining cotton sector have hit another setback as the proposed merger between the Pakistan Central Cotton Committee and the Pakistan Agricultural Research Council remains stuck in bureaucratic limbo, despite receiving legal clearance earlier this month, as reported by Dawn.

According to Dawn, the Ministry of Law cleared the merger draft on March 4 and directed the Ministry of National Food Security and Research to move the summary forward for approval. However, officials have yet to act, leaving the process stalled without explanation and raising concerns among stakeholders about governance inefficiencies.

The merger, first approved in principle by the federal cabinet and Establishment Division in January 2025 with a June deadline, was designed to consolidate cotton research and improve productivity. Yet, more than a year later, the absence of formal notification has exposed persistent administrative inertia.

Khalid Mahmood Khokhar, President of Kisan Ittehad Pakistan, criticised the delay, blaming the bureaucracy for prioritising perks over research funding. He pointed out that while resources are available for administrative expenses, the scientific community continues to face neglect.

Financial disputes have further complicated the issue. The PCCC has historically depended on a cess collected from the textile sector, but research activities suffered a major blow after the All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (Aptma) stopped payments in 2014.

Experts argue that the industry is unwilling to fully fund research while still seeking control over institutional decisions, as highlighted by Dawn.

Muhammad Asif, Vice Chancellor of Muhammad Nawaz Sharif Agriculture University, stated that Aptma appears reluctant to bear administrative costs despite its interest in governance. Meanwhile, textile representatives have raised concerns about past misuse of funds, claiming that only a small portion of cess collections was spent on research.

Despite directives from Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar to accelerate the process, there has been no visible progress, as reported by Dawn.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

S
Sarah B
Very sad for the farmers there. Cotton is a crucial crop. The part about funds being misused and the industry not wanting to pay is a classic chicken-and-egg problem. Good governance is the only solution, but that seems to be missing.
V
Vikram M
"Babus" prioritizing perks over actual work – a story we know all too well in South Asia! 😓 It's the same red tape that slows down projects here. The farmers and scientists are the ones who suffer in the end. Hope they sort it out for the sake of their agri sector.
P
Priya S
As someone from a farming family in Punjab (India), I feel for the cotton growers across the border. When research stalls, farmers bear the brunt with lower yields and more pests. This merger sounded like a good idea. Such a shame it's stuck.
R
Rohit P
The deputy PM gives a directive and nothing happens? That shows a serious breakdown in the chain of command. Inefficiency at this level is shocking. It makes you appreciate when systems work, even if slowly.
K
Karthik V
The textile industry not paying cess since 2014 is the root cause. No funds, no research. But then they complain about misuse. A proper, transparent audit and a clear mandate for the merged body is needed. Without trust, nothing moves forward.

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