Pakistan, Oct. 25 -- Pakistan's cotton production has dropped by more than 60% over the past decade, raising concerns about the future of the country's cotton industry. Cotton Ginners Forum Chairman Ehsanul Haq said Pakistan was the only major cotton-producing country to suffer such a sharp decline.

Haq blamed weak enforcement of crop zoning laws, excessive sugarcane cultivation in cotton-growing areas and the establishment of new sugar mills. He said authorities must restrict sugarcane farming in designated cotton belts to restore cotton output. He also urged the government to strengthen cotton research stations and improve support for farmers.

Haq called for the proposed Pakistan Cotton Board to operate under a legal framework led by ...