KARACHI, Oct 4: Heavy arrival of phutti from cotton fields in Punjab has increased the overall cotton production in the country by 32.23 per cent to 1.169 million bales up to October 1, 2003, as compared to 0.884 million bales recorded in the corresponding period last year.

According to official figures of the Pakistan Cotton Ginners’ Association (PCGA) cotton production in Punjab during the period under review stood at 0.699 million bales as against 0.352 million bales recorded in the same period last year. Consequently, the production rose by 98.57 per cent during the period.

On the other hand cotton production in Sindh declined owing to damages caused by recent heavy rains which swept away most of the standing crops.

The province of Sindh produced 0.470 million bales during the period under review against 0.532 million bales produced in the corresponding period last year, showing a decline of 11.65 per cent.