Balochistan on Wednesday marked the certification of Pakistan's first organic cotton bale at a ceremony held at Kot Sabzal. Balochistan's Minister for Agriculture Engineer Zamrak Khan said the provincial government was committed to promoting organic agriculture throughout the province. He further said that Balochistan would be developing an organic agriculture policy soon. WWF-Pakistan Director General Hamad Naqi Khan said, "We have made a major breakthrough in the cotton sector of the country that will benefit stakeholders and the overall economy of Pakistan." In his remarks, Secretary Agriculture Balochistan Khaleeq Nazar Kiyani appreciated the efforts of WWF-Pakistan and the Agriculture Extension team. "The certificatiion is a step towards a more sustainable Pakistan. Production of organic cotton will propel the cotton sector into a new direction," he said. Later a consultative workshop was conducted in which representatives from ginners, spinners, textiles, brokers and brands participated and presented their concerns regarding development of a tenable supply chain of organic cotton in Pakistan. WWF-Pakistan's Director Sustainable Agriculture and Food Programme Arif Hamid Makhdum conducted the introductory session. Going Organic In 2015, WWF-Pakistan secured financial support from the C&A Foundation, and in collaboration with Balochistan's Directorate of Agriculture Extension started work on a project titled 'Organic Cotton Cultivation Promotion with Small and Marginal Tribal Farmers in Pakistan'. The project is helping improve livelihoods of smallholder cotton farmers by promoting organic cotton cultivation and development of its supply chain.