Punjab has reached a significant milestone in its annual cotton sowing campaign, with cultivation operations concluded on 2.7 million acres to date. This achievement brings the province within striking distance of its overall target of 3.5 million acres, expected to be met within the next ten days, according to Secretary Agriculture Punjab, Iftikhar Ali Sahoo.
Chairing a high-level review meeting on the cotton crop situation, Secretary Sahoo emphasized the government’s commitment to safeguarding early-sown fields, which have remained free of pest attacks due to proactive advisories issued during the recent heatwave. “Special advisories were communicated to farmers to protect their emerging crops,” he noted, underlining the administration’s focus on preventive measures.
To bolster the campaign, technical committees comprising agricultural experts and progressive farmers have been constituted. These committees will oversee pest management, monitor crop health, and ensure the deployment of best-practice mechanization techniques. In parallel, an adequate and timely supply of canal water is being guaranteed across all major cotton-growing districts to sustain crop growth through the critical flowering stage.
The review meeting was attended by Additional Secretary Agriculture Task Force Punjab, Muhammad Shabbir Ahmad Khan; Director Generals of Agriculture Chaudhry Abdul Hameed, Naveed Asmat Kahloon, Dr. Abdul Rehman, and Dr. Abdul Qayyum; along with other senior officials. Their collective expertise and institutional support reflect the province’s high level of commitment and coordination to achieve the second green revolution envisaged by the Prime Minister.
