Pakistan's Cotton Reform Stalls: Bureaucratic Gridlock Delays Key Merger

• Pakistan's cotton sector revival efforts face setback as PCCC and PARC merger remains in bureaucratic limbo.
• Despite legal clearance on March 4, officials have not moved the merger summary forward, causing concern among stakeholders.
• The merger, approved in principle in January 2025 with a June deadline, aims to consolidate cotton research and improve productivity.
• Khalid Mahmood Khokhar of Kisan Ittehad Pakistan criticizes bureaucracy for prioritizing perks over research funding.
• Financial disputes and industry's reluctance to fully fund research while seeking control further complicate the issue.