Cotton Crop Assessment Committee (CCAP) announced that the estimated crop of cotton achieved by the country is 11.6 million bales while the revised target for 2007-08 was 12.8 million bales. So, the country has a shortfall of 1.2 million bales.

In 2006-07, the cotton crop achieved is 13 million bales while this year, the estimated crop production is 11.6 million bales clearly indicating a difference of nearly 11%. The cotton production in Punjab is recorded 8.9 million bales while including the contribution of NWFP and the total cotton production estimates in Sindh and Balochistan is recorded 2.7 million bales.

Every year the country has to import 2 to 2.5 million bales while 0.5-0.6 million bales are exported. The overall requirement of cotton by the industry is 15 million bales.

The furious attacks of Cotton Leaf Curl Virus (CLCV), mealy bug, the Government's negligence about the import of pesticides and the production of less resistant varieties of cotton may be contributed to be the main reason behind the crop reduction.