MULTAN, (APP – UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News – 8th May, 2026) Pakistan business Forum(PBF) expressed serious concern over a proposal to establish a Gymkhana club on around 15 acres of research land belonging to Central Cotton Research Institute in Multan,calling the move harmful to Pakistan’s agricultural economy,here on Friday.
In a letter sent to Chief Minister(CM),Punjab Maryam Nawaz,PBF President Khawaja Mehboob ur Rehman urged the Punjab government to reject and cancel the Multan district administration’s summary seeking transfer of the land.
The forum stated that the 115 acre land was allocated in 1970 for cotton research with 80 acres currently being used for research trials and experiments.
It maintained that despite financial constraints, the institute developed high-yield cotton varieties including Cyto-547 and CRIS-682 with one variety cultivated on nearly 40 percent of cotton-growing land in Sindh.
PBF President remarked, using the land for recreational purposes instead of agricultural research would undermine long-term national agricultural and economic interests.
Similarly,CCRI spokesperson Sajid Mahmood also backed the forum’s stance, saying the institute’s land was developed over decades for scientific research and its protection was essential for the future of cotton farming, farmers and the national economy.
