Brussels/Lahore,(Unib Rashid) __ Pakistan’s economic stability depends on revitalizing its agriculture sector, particularly cotton, according to agricultural expert Dr. Javed Hassan.

In a recent statement, Dr. Hassan emphasized that sustainable economic growth cannot be achieved through short-term measures such as loans or temporary relief packages. Instead, he argued, real stability lies in increasing domestic production and boosting exports through agriculture-led growth.

“Cotton is Pakistan’s most strategic crop,” he said, noting that it supports a vast industrial chain — from farm income and rural employment to ginning, spinning, textiles, exports, and foreign exchange earnings. A decline in cotton production, he warned, weakens the entire value chain, increases reliance on imports, and leads to a loss of valuable foreign exchange.

Dr. Hassan urged policymakers to treat agriculture as the backbone of national economic planning rather than a secondary sector. He called for cotton revival to be made a national priority and outlined several key reforms to strengthen the sector.

These include promoting high-yield, climate-resilient seed varieties and eliminating counterfeit seed markets, modernizing ginning facilities to improve quality and global competitiveness, encouraging mechanization and cluster farming to reduce production costs, and adopting water-efficient, climate-smart agricultural practices.

He also stressed the importance of mandatory traceability systems to access premium international markets and the need for consistent, farmer-friendly long-term policies.

“Grow agriculture, strengthen farmers, and boost exports — this is the only sustainable path to economic stability,” Dr. Hassan concluded.

Experts say that with agriculture contributing significantly to employment and exports, a focused revival of the cotton sector could play a critical role in stabilizing Pakistan’s economy and supporting rural development.