ISLAMABAD, July 30: Exports of traditional products — rice, carpets, sports, surgical, leather, and footwear have recorded more than 20 per cent decline during the year 2006-07 over the last year.

Official figures compiled by the commerce ministry reveals that export of other commodities like cement, gur and gur products, jewellery, gems, and engineering goods have recorded a tangible growth during the year under review over the last year.

The traditional products’ export once known for its quality in international market like footballs, surgical goods and leather products has been witnessing decline during the last couple of years. As the government policies are only focusing on textile based industries at the cost of others.

The overall export of non-textile products stood at $6.25 billion in the year 2006-07 as against $6.233 billion over the previous year, indicating a nominal growth of 0.33 per cent.

Product-wise details showed export of rice dipped by 3.11 per cent during the year 2006-07 to $1.121 billion as against $1.157 billion over the last year. Of these export of basmati was up 16.96 per cent during the year under review. However, export of other rice declined by 17.31 per cent during the same period. This is the only traditional commodity, which crossed the billion dollar mark otherwise export of other products remained in millions.

The export of sport goods declined by 16.14 per cent during the year 2006-07 as against the same period of last year. Of these export of footballs declined by 27.30 per cent. However, export of gloves rose by 214.93 per cent during the same period.

The carpets, rugs and mats exports recorded a negative growth of 9.38 per cent; and leather goods (garments and gloves) by 24.42 per cent during the fiscal year under review over last year. Of the leather goods export of leather garments declined by 22.72pc, leather gloves 17.07pc and other leather manufacturers 52.79pc.

The export of footwear declined by 21.44 per cent during the months of June-July 2007 over the same months of the last year. Of these export of leather footwear dipped 16.64 per cent canvas footwear 46.76 and other footwear 38.43 per cent. Molasses export declined by 35.57 per cent.

Further analysis showed that export of surgical instruments and medical equipment increased by 13.06 per cent, engineering goods 8.07 per cent auto parts 24.80 per cent, cement 34.74 per cent, gems 19.45 per cent, jewellery 130.69 per cent, gur and gur products 18.42 per cent.

Among the primary commodities, export of fish products declined by 3.01 per cent, fruits 9.94 per cent, leguminous vegetables 90 per cent, and sugar 100 per cent. However, export of vegetables up by 80.35 per cent, tobacco 46.56 per cent, wheat 100 per cent, spices 0.36 per cent, meat products 120.17 per cent and all other food items 21.11 per cent.