ISLAMABAD, Jan 28: Pakistan’s export of readymade garments recorded a decline of 4.92 per cent during the month of December 2005 over the same month of the last year. Official figures available with Dawn showed that the value of readymade garments declined to $107.511 million during Dec 2005 as against $113.072 million the same month last year.

This indicates the six per cent research and development subsidy and taxation relief for the sector might not remain more helpful to compete with those readymade products coming from China and India.

An analyst said that in case the government did not take timely measures to arrest the decline in the export it would be very difficult to re-capture the market for the readymade garments.

The overall growth in the export of readymade garments declined to 53.51 per cent during the first half (July-Dec) of this fiscal over the last year. The growth during the first five months of current fiscal was more than 72 per cent over the last year.

The total value of textile products exports increased by 27.30 per cent to $4.898 billion during the July-Dec 2005-06 as against $3.847 billion fetched in the same period last year.

Export of bedwear rose by 84.02 per cent, cotton yarn by 36.39 per cent, cotton cloth by 26.95 per cent, knitwear by 0.62 per cent and towels by 20.71 per cent during the period under review over the last year.

However, export of tents, canvas and tarpaulin declined by 54.52 per cent, art, silk, synthetic textile by 38.26 per cent and made-up articles by 10.09 per cent.

Similarly, the export of surgical goods recorded a decrease of 14.71 per cent during the period despite the taxation package announced in the budget for the sectors among others.

The figures indicated that the overall export of sports goods and engineering goods registered a nominal growth because of the increase in export of commodities from these two sectors during the month of December 2005. There was a negative growth in export from these two sectors during the first five months (July-Nov) period of the current fiscal year.

In the sports group, the positive trend was because of export of footballs as export of gloves declined by 40.20 per cent during the period under review over the same period of the last year.

Moreover, the overall export of engineering products registered a growth of 15.02 per cent during the period under review. The export of auto parts increased by 27.02 per cent, leather manufacturers increased by 45.34 per cent and footwear 17.05 per cent, chemical and pharmaceutical products by 7.54 per cent and gems 13.19 per cent during the first six months this year over the last year.

While export of jewellery declined by 47.66 per cent, furniture by 6.33 per cent, and molasses by 70.98 per cent during the period under review over the last year.

The export of primary commodities registered an overall growth of 30.04 per cent during the months under review as against the last year. Of these export of rice increased by 47.04 per cent, fish and fish preparations 30.49 per cent, spices by 105.12 per cent during the same period under review.

The total value of exports during the month of July-Dec 2005 increased by 23.79 per cent to $8.073 billion as against $6.521 billion the same period last year.