May 28, 2006	Sunday	Rabi-us-Sani 29, 1427

ISLAMABAD, May 27: The country is unlikely to achieve the revised export target of $17.4 billion by the end of fiscal year on June 30, 2006.

An official in the ministry told Dawn that the slowdown in the export proceeds during the last few months had made it very difficult to achieve the target.

The president and the commerce minister had announced at the inauguration of the Expo 2006 in Karachi that the export proceeds would cross $18 billion by of the fiscal year.

“It is not likely that the export proceeds would now cross even the $17 billion mark. We are worried about the achievement of the actual projected target,” added the official.

According to the official, the growth projected for the textile products particularly bedwear and towels was not materialised for the current fiscal year.

The official said $3.476 billion export proceeds in May and June were needed for achieving the $17 billion target set for the current fiscal year.

The country’s export stood at $13.524 billion during July-April period this year as against $11.481 billion, indicating an increase of 17.8 per cent.