ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s non-textile exports posted 1.02 per cent growth year-on-year to $6.324 billion in the first eight months of FY21 owing to the partial revival of orders from international markets.

The non-textile sector was yet to receive full orders to the pre-Covid-19 levels, showed data released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) on Thursday.

However, the growth was only seen in the value-added non-textile products during the July-February period of 2020-21. Three sectors — leather garments, surgical instruments and engineering goods — have maintained growth in export proceeds despite lockdowns in many countries.

The data compiled by the PBS showed the food basket contracted 5.85pc in the July-February period from a year ago. Under this category, exports of rice witnessed a decline of 4.26pc. On the other hand, basmati exports dipped 26.16pc in value and 35.57pc in quantity but exports of non-basmati up by 7.92pc in value.

The export of spices was up by 8.520pc, followed by oil seeds, nuts 121.13pc, meat and its products 2.59pc during the period under review.

Export of fish and fish products declined by 10.02pc while that of foreign sales of vegetables dipped by 15.98pc, fruits 1.89pc, tobacco 14.1pc.

No exports of wheat and sugar were made after ban imposed in March 2020.

After a long time, leather exports also rebounded by 5.57pc. The growth was seen in export of leather garments, leather gloves and other leather based products.

The exports of engineering goods went up 19.74pc and surgical instruments 4.92pc. In the engineering sector, the export of electric fans posted over 15pc growth followed by transport equipment 0.95pc and other electrical machinery 17.16pc respectively.

Published in Dawn, March 19th, 2021