Published August 10, 2026 Updated about 3 hours ago KARACHI: Cotton prices remained largely stable this week, with trading activity continuing at a reasonable pace across the market. New York cotton prices, meanwhile, showed an upward trend, reflecting positive sentiment in international markets. Despite prevailing uncertainty in the region, Pakistan’s textile exports have reached a new record high. Commenting on the development, Khurram Mukhtar said that a ten percent increase in exports during the first month of the new fiscal year was an encouraging sign for the industry. However, complaints regarding contamination and trash content in cotton have risen in recent weeks, raising concerns among stakeholders about quality control. On a more positive note, Pakistan is set to introduce fourteen standardized seed varieties of the finest cotton quality, a move expected to strengthen the sector’s long-term output. In another development, the All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA) welcomed the government’s announcement of a twenty billion rupee payment to the textile industry, calling it a much-needed relief for the sector. Despite these positive indicators, Pakistan’s agricultural sector, particularly the cotton industry, continues to face significant challenges. Concerns have been raised that key stakeholders, including the public, the government, and national institutions, remain largely disengaged from the administrative process, a gap that industry observers say could hinder sustained progress if left unaddressed. Cotton prices remained stable in the local cotton market during the past week, with textile mills showing keen interest in purchasing cotton while ginners are also selling at reasonable rates. Trading volume has improved as well. However, the supply of seed cotton (phutti) has been delayed following recent rains, prompting ginners to proceed cautiously with their business. Many ginners are still delaying the delivery of deals struck earlier at lower rates, and as a result, several mills that had booked deals at those lower prices are now pressing ginners for delivery, though many ginners continue to merely promise delivery without…