The cotton multistakeholder initiative aims to leverage the platform in Pakistan to regularly convene representatives from government, industry, donors and academia to promote collaboration and speed up the process toward a more sustainable cotton sector.
The platform’s inaugural meeting took place on 10 April in Lahore, where Better Cotton welcomed more than 35 participants to define mutual goals and expectations for future gatherings.
Hina Fouzia, director at Better Cotton Pakistan, said: “Promoting more sustainable cotton production in Pakistan is imperative not only to the country’s economic development, but also to its ability to protect human and labour rights, achieve national sustainability targets, and ensure access to global markets for farmers and suppliers. Together, we are stronger and have the capabilities to future-proof the livelihoods of cotton farming communities.”
The multistakeholder platform formalises an approach for closer engagement between government bodies and the cotton sector’s stakeholders. It will create greater transparency and accountability among organisations as they work towards a more sustainable cotton industry.
Participating organisations will attend quarterly meetings to exchange information and learnings, define priorities, and co-create action plans capable of accelerating progress.
Last month, Better Cotton launched a Multistakeholder Dialogue in Brazil, bringing together the country’s agricultural and textile sectors to promote multisectoral collaboration, align on priorities, and develop joint solutions to mutual challenges.
