RIYADH, March 26: During the first seven months of the current financial year until January 2002, Pakistani exports to Saudi Arabia have registered a growth of 22 per cent, statistics reveal here. Exports to Saudi Arabia have gone up by $34 million, from $149 million to $173 million over the same seven months period last year.

Pakistani exports to Saudi Arabia has been steadily rising over the last few years. In 1998-1999, it was recorded at $185 million. The next year it went up to $215 million, whereas during the previous financial year of 2000-2001 it was recorded at $273 million, Pakistan’s commercial consular in Jeddah Mohammad Saleem told Dawn.

As per the details available here, the garments exports recorded the highest growth of 56 per cent, which was followed by bed sheets— 33 per cent. Pakistan is currently the leading exporter of bed sheets to Saudi Arabia. Other items in which it has major share in this market include raw cotton, yarn, tents and canvas, cotton bags, leather gloves, leather clothing, etc. The market demand of Pakistani towels, garments and hosiery items is reported to be rising in the Saudi market.

The increase in Pakistani exports to Saudi Arabia is more significant in view of the overall slump seen in the export markets after September 11 events. During the same period, Pakistan’s overall exports have registered a decline of about 1.5 per cent as compared to the previous year. Among the 197 countries, to which Pakistani goods are exported, growth in exports were registered in case of three markets only. Besides Saudi Arabia, the Pakistani export markets which registered growth included the United Kingdom and the United Arab Emirates. The increase in exports have been registered in cotton yarn, cotton bags/sacks, towels, hosiery, fish, fruit, vegetables, synthetic textiles, surgical instruments, sports goods, spices, metal manufacturer, machinery (non-electrical) and footwear, the report by the commercial wing of the Pakistani Consulate in Jeddah highlighted.

However, the rice exports to Saudi Arabia from Pakistan is not doing well. Value wise it has gone down by $4 million the last year, the Pakistani commercial consular in Jeddah admitted. One of the reasons for this decline in Pakistani rice exports to this market could be that the local market basically needs the par boiled variety, which “we do not have in large quantities to export,” Mohammad Saleem said.