LAHORE: Sindh’s cotton ginning sector has witnessed an unprecedented surge during the 2025-26 season, driven by record purchases from Punjab and Balochistan, a trend described as the highest in Pakistan’s history.

The number of active ginning factories in Sindh has risen sharply over the years. Pakistan Cotton Ginners Association (PCGA) data show that as of Dec 31, 2023, only 31 ginning factories were operational across Sindh, rising to 67 by Dec 31, 2024, and reaching a record 82 by Dec 31, 2025.

Traditionally, major cotton zones of Sindh, including Badin, Thatta, Mirpurkhas, Hyder­abad, Umerkot, and Sanghar, used to begin sowing cotton in February-March, with the ginning season starting in June and ending in October-November. During this period, several Punjab-based ginners would purchase cotton from Sindh to run their factories.

However, over the past two to three years, Sindh ginners have increasingly started buying large quantities of high-quality cotton from major markets in Punjab — particularly Rahim Yar Khan, Bahawalpur, Bahawalnagar, Dera Ghazi Khan, Khanewal, and Vehari — as well as from Balochistan. This shift has led to a continuous rise in the number of active ginning factories in Sindh by the end of December each year.

Meanwhile, the large-scale movement of cotton from Punjab to Sindh has led to a steady decline in the number of active ginning factories in Punjab.

Record inter-provincial purchases boost number of ginning units in Sindh amid rapid closures in Punjab

According to PCGA data, Punjab had 210 active ginning factories as of Dec 31, 2023, which fell to 155 in December 2024 and further declined to just 140 by December 2025. Further reductions are feared in the coming years.

In terms of arrivals, Punjab’s ginning factories had received cotton equivalent to 2.541 million bales, while Sindh reco­rded arrivals of 2.893m bales, including 179,000 bales from Balochistan, by Dec 31, 2025.

In comparison, Punjab had received 2.718m bales, while Sindh recorded 1.812m bales, including 92,000 bales from Balochistan, by Dec 31, 2022.

Cotton Ginners Forum Chairman Ihsanul Haq notes that most active ginning factories in Sindh’s cotton zones are currently mixing high- and medium-quality cotton for ginning, enabling textile mills to procure lint at comparatively lower prices. This has led to sustained demand and rising prices. Over the past week alone, cotton prices have increased by Rs200 to Rs300, rising from Rs15,000 to around Rs15,300 per maund, while premium-quality cotton prices have remained capped at around Rs16,000 per maund.

He also points out unverified reports suggesting that some Sindh ginners are mixing high-quality cotton purchased from Punjab and Balochistan with waste cotton to produce lint, a practice that has already triggered several complaints.

Published in Dawn, January 13th, 2026