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       LAHORE: The Punjab government has set 3.5 million acres of target for cotton cultivation in the province.

       Punjab Agriculture Department Secretary Iftikhar Ali Sahoo chaired a review meeting on cotton cultivation at the Muhammad Nawaz Sharif University of Agriculture, Multan, on Saturday.

       He said the increase in cotton production was essential for enhancing the volume of exports and a target of 3.5 million acres has been set for cotton cultivation in Punjab while more than 2.2 million acres had already been cultivated. He stated that the final phase of cotton sowing would continue until May 25 and a special incentive package was being provided to transform Bahawalpur division into a ‘Cotton Valley’.

       Mr Sahoo said the selection process of model farms for cotton was going on and adequate canal water supply was being ensured for cotton growing areas. Moreover, guidance for the care of early-sown cotton was underway while specific tasks had been assigned to relevant formations to guide cotton growers, he added.

       The meeting was attended by Special Secretary Agriculture South Punjab Sarfraz Hussain Magsi, Chairman National Seed Authority Dr Asif Ali, Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Ishtiaq Ahmed Rajwana, Additional Secretary Agriculture Task Force Punjab Muhammad Shabbir Ahmed Khan, director generals of Agriculture Chaudhry Abdul Hameed and Naveed Asmat Kahloon, Dr Sajidur Rehman, Dr Abdul Qayyum, Aamir Rasool and others. Other divisional directors (extension) joined online.

       Published in Dawn, May 11th, 2025