KARACHI, Dec 22: Exporters have expressed concern over surge in export of semi-finished textiles, like cotton yarn and grey cloth as against falling trend in export of value-added textiles and apparels.

In a statement issued on Saturday, chairman, Pakistan Hosiery Manufacturers Association (PHMA), M Jawed Bilwani, said that rise in export of textiles mainly constitutes semi-finished textile goods which could otherwise be used by the apparel industry for value-addition.

He said that textile exports have declined by 10.38 per cent while Bangladesh and India have shown positive growth in textile exports.

He said that knitwear exports declined by 18.6 per cent in quantity when compared exports in 2010-11, bedwear by 22.76 per cent, towel by 27.32 per cent and readymade garments by 12.40 per cent.

Mr Bilwani said that if export of cotton yarn for 2011-12 is compared with the current fiscal year (2012-13), there is an increase of 52 per cent in just first five months.

He said that during 2010, the ministry of commerce through SRO-119(I)/2010 (Feb 25, 2010) restricted export of all categories of yarn at 35m kkg per month. This capping was done to check unbridled export of cotton yarn and to ensure its availability to domestic value-added textile sector.

Mehtabuddin Chawla, chairman, Towel Manufacturers Association, said that there was a shortage of gas and electricity in the country.

He urged the government to give priority to supply of gas and electricity to value-added textile sector which mostly runs on captive power plants and also generates largest employment in the country.

He further stated that decline in export of value-added textile exports was a matter of concern because it was a major foreign exchange earner in the entire textile sector.