Merger of Cotton Research Bodies Delayed Despite Legal Approval

A proposed merger of the Pakistan Central Cotton Committee (PCCC) into the Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC) has stalled despite receiving legal clearance earlier this month, raising fresh concerns over delays in efforts to revive Pakistan’s struggling cotton sector.

The Ministry of Law cleared the merger on March 4, but the summary remains pending with the Ministry of National Food Security and Research, with officials yet to move it forward for final approval. The delay comes despite repeated directives from senior leadership, including the deputy prime minister, to expedite the process.

The merger is a central component of the government’s Cotton Revival Plan, aimed at improving research efficiency, better utilising resources and boosting domestic cotton production. However, stakeholders say bureaucratic inertia has slowed progress, even after in-principle approval was granted by the federal cabinet in January 2025.

Industry representatives and experts have expressed frustration, warning that continued delays are worsening the sector’s decline. Pakistan’s cotton output has dropped significantly in recent years, while research institutions face funding shortages and administrative inefficiencies.

The PCCC, historically funded through a cess collected from the textile industry, has struggled financially since payments were halted in 2014. Stakeholders say unresolved governance and funding issues have further complicated the merger, with concerns over how research funds are allocated.