Pakistan: Environmental Impact of Cotton Production and Trade

This research paper examines the environmental impacts of cotton production and textile processing in Pakistan, analyzing the sector through the lens of global commodity chains. It highlights the ecological and health costs of heavy pesticide use in farming and the pollution caused by chemical dyes in textile manufacturing, while evaluating the governance structures that hinder or facilitate a transition to sustainable practices.

• Cotton is the most critical economic sector in Pakistan, contributing approximately 10% to the GDP and 55% of the country's foreign exchange earnings. The sector's performance is closely linked to national economic growth, with GDP growth rates historically correlating with cotton yield trends.
• The cotton production system in Pakistan is characterized by a 'pesticide treadmill,' where increasing chemical use leads to pest resistance, necessitating even higher doses. Laboratory experiments at the Central Cotton Research Institute in Multan showed that pests like the American bollworm and whitefly developed resistance requiring monocrotophos applications to be increased by 19 to 720 times.
• Pesticide use in Pakistan's cotton sector poses severe health risks, particularly to field workers. A study by the Central Cotton Research Institute (CCRI) in Multan found that 74% of female cotton pickers sampled had moderate pesticide poisoning, and 25% had dangerous levels of blood acetylcholinestrase inhibition.
• The textile processing industry is a major source of water pollution due to the discharge of untreated effluents containing toxic chemicals, such as azo dyes. German authorities found that 34% of Pakistani textile imports contained banned azo dyes, which are feared to be carcinogenic.
• The cotton commodity chain in Pakistan is fragmented by different governance structures: apparel is 'buyer-driven' by international retailers; cotton growing is 'government-driven' through research and extension; and weaving is largely 'anarchistic' or informal. This disparity means transition costs to sustainable methods are likely to be inequitably distributed.
• Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is identified as a viable alternative to conventional pesticide-heavy farming, potentially reducing unit costs by 28% as seen in Indian studies. However, its adoption in Pakistan is hindered by a lack of training for extension staff and the influence of powerful pesticide companies.
• Organic cotton production is an environmentally friendly alternative, but it typically involves initial yield reductions of about 50%, stabilizing at around 30% in the long run. There is no recorded information on organic cotton production within Pakistan.
• The 'Green Revolution' in Pakistan shifted agricultural knowledge from farmers to government bureaucrats and scientists, creating a dependence on external inputs. This system prioritized maximizing yields over environmental sustainability, leaving the sector vulnerable to pest crises in the 1970s and 1990s.
• Effluent treatment in the textile sector can be achieved through primary, secondary, and tertiary processes. Primary and secondary treatment can reduce BOD levels by 94% and COD by 80%, with annual operating costs estimated between Rs 0.16 and Rs 0.52 per square meter of finished cloth.

APA

Banuri, T. (1999). Pakistan: Environmental Impact of Cotton Production and Trade. International Institute for Sustainable Development. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/pk_Banuri.pdf

Chicago

Banuri, Tariq. Pakistan: Environmental Impact of Cotton Production and Trade. International Institute for Sustainable Development, 1999. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/pk_Banuri.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Banuri |first1=Tariq |title=Pakistan: Environmental Impact of Cotton Production and Trade |publisher=International Institute for Sustainable Development |date=1999 |url=https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/pk_Banuri.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{banuri1999pakistan, author = {Banuri, Tariq}, title = {{Pakistan: Environmental Impact of Cotton Production and Trade}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {1999}, url = {https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/pk_Banuri.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }