Chairman of Pakistan Cotton Ginners Forum Ihsan ul Haq stated that Department of Plant Protection (DPP) halted cotton imports from India via the Wagah border crossing amid rising tensions between the two countries. However, the ban has been lifted after period of eight months and Pakistani authorities have permitted import of cotton via Wagah Border Crossing.

Pakistan resumed cotton imports from India via Wagah border crossing after period of eight months. But there has been a significant drop in interest of Pakistani mills owners in Indian cotton amid unusual hike in price.

Current report of International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC) reveals that per hectare production of cotton in Pakistan remained record 25pc higher than India in cotton year 2016-17.

In cotton year 2016-17, per hectare production of cotton in Pakistan remained at 699 kilogram whereas in India it remained at 560 kilogram.

ICAC further forecasted that per hectare production of cotton in Pakistan would remain 40pc higher than India in cotton year 2017-18.

ICAC said that in cotton year 2017-18, per hectare production of cotton in Pakistan would increase to 739kg while cotton production from 0.1 million tonnes to 1.9 million tonnes whereas in India per hectare production would decrease to 530kg and cotton production would soar by 0.1 million tonnes to 6 tonnes.