In a landmark development for Pakistan’s agriculture sector, the Centre for Excellence in Molecular Biology (CEMB) at Punjab University, in collaboration with a private agricultural biotechnology research company, has developed a new cotton variety capable of thriving in temperatures as high as 50 °C [120°F].
Talking to WealthPK, [Javaid Saleem Qureshi] said that CEMB-33 is the first genetically modified cotton variety developed locally, ending years of dependence on smuggled or poorly regulated foreign Bt seeds. “It incorporates advanced Bt gene technology for resistance against bollworms and shows strong tolerance to extreme heat. It also offers resistance to diseases such as Cotton Leaf Curl Virus (CLCuV),” [Qureshi] explained.
“Wheat and cotton have been the major victims of climate change in Pakistan,” [Qureshi] observed. Cotton production has already suffered significant setbacks. According to the Pakistan Cotton Ginners Association, national output declined from 8.4 million bales in 2023–24 to 5.5 million bales in 2024–25.