Data released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) revealed that exports of non-textile products registered a decline of 39.7 pc during the first eight months of 2016-17 on a year-on-year basis,
Export proceeds of non-textile products decreased to $5.1b in July-Feb from $5.5b a year ago.
A source in the commerce ministry stated that due to low supply of electricity and gas to non-textile sectors, the cost of doing business for these sectors has gone up. The exporters are unable to take advantage of the subsidy scheme introduced by the government last year due to clumsy procedures.
The exports of carpets and rugs registered negative growth of 17.86pc in July-Feb. Exports of sports goods fell 5.49pc year-on-year during the months under review. Foreign sales of footballs also dipped 9.96pc.
Tanned leather exports fell by 6.26pc in July-Feb from a year ago while those of leather products registered a decline of 6.61pc.
Exports of footwear dipped 10.14pc mainly because of 5.5pc negative growth in the exports of leather footwear. Exports of surgical goods and medical instruments went down 5.33pc and those of engineering goods dipped 7.66pc during the period under review.
In the category of the food basket, exports of rice registered a negative growth of 14.54pc in July-Feb. The decline was noticed in the exports of both basmati and non-basmati rice. The export figures of spices, wheat, oil seeds and fish witnessed an increase during the period under review.
In a year-on-year (YOY) comparison, exports of gur fell 5.19pc, cement 18pc, gems 18.48pc and furniture 12.63pc in the first eight months of the current fiscal year.
