Dr. Faheem Uddin*
Textile chemistry research lab,
HEJ Research Institute of Chemistry,
ICCS, Karachi University, 75270
Email: dfudfuca@yahoo.ca, faheem@umt.edu.pk
Tel. 4824934/36 ext. 231 or 0300 2225799

In facing the present challenges and preparing for the future changes- the pictures of cotton production and textile value- addition in developing regions must be validated for the decades to come. �Where we should stand� is the ideal command to explore new heights in the textile sector of world. These days textile is no longer the trade of exporting fibres or bales of cotton, it is an arena of marvellous fibrous materials and products that may bear many times higher value return.

The value- chain of cotton production has an origin in cotton crop. The cotton fibres obtained are used in producing a variety of textile products from fibre to fabric. The time has come to place higher priority for raising the standards in value- addition rather limiting or concentrating the approaches for increasing the fibre quantity.

Cotton crop is an earliest stage in the value- addition chain of cotton- containing textiles. Cotton plant is most technically demanding of all major agricultural crops if good yield is desired. It is highly responsive to changes in growing conditions. The requirements posed by �how to grow eco- friendly cotton� had introduced major concerns and subsequent technological advancement in producing environment- friendly cotton crop, and longer and finer cotton fibres.

*Present address: Department of Textiles, SST, University of Management and Technology, 52- L, Gulberg III, Lahore. Tel. 5886166, 5884172. faheem@umt.edu.pk