Pakistan is ranked fourth among the top five cotton-producing countries in the world. About 70–80% of the cultivated
area is under Bt cotton in Pakistan. Bollworm (Helicoverpa armigera) is the major pest of cotton. It causes 31.73–
36.45% yield losses and these are reduced by heavy pesticide application. There has been a tremendous increase in
the import and use of pesticides. Consequently, about 7.7 billion rupees is spent on pesticides every year. Considering
the total pesticide usage (94,265 metric tonnes in 2007–08), 70% is being used exclusively on cotton.