Employees express concern on reported plan to convert CCRI into gymkhana club

MULTAN, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 27th Apr, 2026) All Pakistan Clerks Association (APCA), Pakistan Central Cotton Committee (PCCC) unit, has expressed concern over reports suggesting that the Central Cotton Research Institute (CCRI) in Multan might be shut down and its land converted into a gymkhana club.

APCA PCCC Unit President Muhammad Asif Gara termed the reported move “deeply alarming,” warning it would not only affect hundreds of employees but also deal a serious blow to Pakistan’s struggling agricultural sector and economy. He said the proposal comes at a time when cotton production is declining and the textile industry is already facing a shortage of raw materials.

Gara described CCRI Multan as a vital national asset, essential for cotton research, crop improvement, and agricultural sustainability. Converting such an institution into a recreational facility, he said, would undermine national interests and weaken efforts to revive the cotton sector.

The association has urged the Punjab government, the Ministry of National food Security and Research, and local authorities to immediately extend the institute’s land lease at official rates and ensure its protection. APCA further demanded increased funding, modern equipment, and policy support for cotton research.