ISLAMABAD, June 3: Pakistan’s exports of readymade garments registered a growth of 37.15 per cent during the first four months (January-April) of the quota-free regime, over the corresponding period last year. Official figures available with Dawn showed that in absolute term the value of exports of readymade garments stood at $448.305m during the period under review, as against $326.866m during the same period last year.

Following the abolishing of textile quotas in January 2005, Pakistan was expecting tough competition in the garment sector, particularly from China and India in the international market, but the statistics showed it other way round.

The total value of textile export products stood at $2.942 billion during the first four months of the quota-free regime, as against $2.762 billion during the same period last year, indicating an overall growth of 6.51 per cent.

An analysis of textile products showed that exports of cotton yarn, knitwear, art, silk, synthetic textile had steadily been on decline during the period under review as against other textile related sectors that showed a growth in the first four months (Jan-April). Exports of cotton cloth, bedwear, towels, tents canvas and tarpaulin, art, silk, synthetic textile and made-up articles registered a growth.

The export of bedwear stood at $529.406m during the period under review, as against $495.61 million over the same period last year, showing an increase of 6.81 per cent; towels export stood at $178.265m as against $102.485m, indicating an increase of 73.94 per cent; cotton cloth increased by 14.2 per cent to $703.843m as against $615.842m; and tents, canvas and tarpaulin registered a growth of 1.56 per cent and stood at $29.149m as compared to $28.701 million.