SIALKOT, Oct 1: The export of surgical instruments fetched $173 million during the year 2004-05 compared to $133 million the previous year, showing an increase of 30 per cent.

Pakistan Surgical Instruments Manufacturers Association chairman Naeem Anwar Qureshi talking to the newsmen here on Saturday said that the surgical industry was maintaining international quality standards to meet the requirements of foreign buyers.

He said that the association was striving to achieve an export target of $1 billion annually in next few years by implementing international quality standards, modernization of plants and focusing on the diversification of traditional to non-traditional surgical export items.