ISLAMABAD: The export of government services declined 37.8 per cent to $957.6 million in first 10 months of this fiscal year from $1.54 billion in the corresponding period last year, showed Pakistan Bureau of Statistics data on Thursday.

The drop was largely driven by 8.7pc fall in remittances received by foreign missions in Pakistan; a 12.5pc decrease was recorded in receipts of military units and agencies and a bulk of decline was seen in receipts in the category of ‘others’.

Transportation is the second biggest services exporting sector. However, overall export proceeds of this sector witnessed a paltry growth of 2pc in July-March period to $704.8m from $685.3m over the corresponding period of last year.

The increase in export proceeds of transport services was because of 4.6pc rise in charter of Pakistan aircraft with crew, followed by 900pc increase in earnings of rail transport, 38.8pc increase in earnings of road transport. However, a decline of 71.3pc was recorded in charter of Pakistan ships with crew.

In the travel sectors, the religious tour witnessed an increase of 509pc. However, earnings from the foreign national tourist declined during the period under review. In communications services, export of postal and courier services witnessed a decline of 13.7pc during the period under review.

The telecommunications witnessed a negative growth of 5.04pc. However, call centres posted 26pc growth during the period under review.

Construction service exports witnessed a negative growth of 2.2pc in July-March period this year from a year ago.

Under the head of computer and information services, hardware consultancy services exports were up 17.5pc, software consultancy 28.4pc, maintenance and repairs of computers 92pc growth and 17.2pc in export of computer software.

Export of other businesses services up by 0.9pc in July-March period this year over the previous year.

Export of personal, culture and recreation services witnessed a sharp drop of 30.6pc mainly driven by decline in export of audiovisual and related services, earnings of professional artists and other personal, cult and recreational services during the period under review.

Published in Dawn, May 25th, 2018