June 24, 2007	Sunday	Jamadi-us-Sani 08, 1428

ISLAMABAD, June 23: Pakistan’s export of traditional products — rice, carpets, sports, leather and footwear — recorded double digits decline during the first 11 months (July-May) of the outgoing fiscal year compared to corresponding period of last year.

Latest figures released by the commerce ministry here on Saturday showed that the export of other commodities like cement, gur and gur products, jewellery, gems and engineering goods recorded a marginal growth during the period under review.

Despite the falling exports of these traditional products, the government had failed to announce any special measures in the new budget to arrest the trend.

The figures showed that the export of rice dipped 3.07pc during the period under review over the last year. The foreign sales of basmati rice rose by 19.91pc while other varieties declined by 18.29pc during July-May 2006-07.

The overall export of sport goods declined 16.86pc during the period over last year as footballs saw a major drop of 26.38pc. However, the export of gloves rose by 196.93pc.

The carpets, rugs and mats exports recorded a negative growth of 10.43pc; and leather goods (garments and gloves) by 25.36pc during the first 11 months of the outgoing year. The export of leather garments fell 24.15pc, leather gloves dipped 17.89pc and other leather manufactures plunged by 49.71pc.

Export of footwear declined by 19.69pc during the July-May 2007-06. Leather footwear dipped 14.36pc, canvas footwear 42.32pc and other footwear 40.21pc. The export of surgical instruments and medical equipment, however, jumped by 10.85pc.

The export of engineering goods up by 8.70pc, auto parts by 21.74pc, cement by 32.44pc, gems by 17.04pc, jewellery by 128.19pc, gur and gur products by 23.80pc during period under review over the last year.