Pakistan Set for Record Cotton Output

Pakistan is the fourth largest cotton producer in the world and poses a serious challenge to India in Western markets. Many experts believe Pakistan’s low cost of production will allow it to come out a “winner” when quotas governed by the multi-fiber arrangement expire on December 31. Pakistan has aggressively prepared to compete in the world textile and apparel markets. Its apparel and textile exports increased by 116% between 2001-02 to 2003-04. During the same period, Pakistani exports of cotton fabric also grew 26%…