ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s non-textile exports grew 23.4 per cent year-on-year to $2.48 billion in the first quarter of current fiscal year owing to partial revival of international orders and the government’s support schemes.

Overall growth in the non-textile sector is mainly led by the value-added sectors. The non-textile sector has yet to receive full orders to pre-Covid levels, data compiled by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) showed.

In FY21, three sectors — leather garments, surgical instruments and engineering goods — have maintained growth in export proceeds despite lockdowns in many countries.

In the value-added leather sector, exports of leather garments up by 4pc and leather gloves 8pc respectively. Contrary to this, the exports of raw leather increased by over 43pc during first three months (July-September FY22) from a year ago.

Pakistan is one of the main suppliers of global surgical instruments. However, these instruments are re-marketed from western countries with famous brands. As a result, the export value of these products remains very negligible.

The export of surgical instruments posted a negative growth of 6.09pc in 3MFY22 over the last year. However, exports of pharmaceutical products posted over 7pc growth during the period under review.

The export of footwear increased by 15.23pc year-on-year led by leather and canvas footwear. The export of engineering products up 10.87pc year-on-year in FY22. However, export of electric fans dipped 22.78pc during the year under review.

The export of carpets went up by 19pc, while that of sports goods up 16.81pc during first three months this year from a year ago. In the sports sector, the sales of footballs up 14.60pc in July-Sept this year from a year ago.

In the budget 2021-22, the government has proposed several measures including reduction in duty on raw materials to promote exports of pharmaceutical, plastic, chemicals, engineering, and value-added textile products.

Data compiled by the PBS showed the food basket posted growth of 26.41pc in the first three months of the current fiscal year from a year ago.

Under this category, exports of rice witnessed a growth of 17.41pc. On the other hand, basmati exports dipped 26.88pc in value and 35.57pc in quantity while non-basmati exports were up by 12.78pc in value.

Published in Dawn, October 19th, 2021