ISLAMABAD, Aug 30: Pakistan’s export of traditional products—rice, sports, leather, and footwear have recorded more than 10 per cent decline during the first month of the current fiscal year over the same month of the last year.

Official figures compiled by the commerce ministry indicated that the export of the other commodities like surgical equipments, engineering goods, cement, gur and gur products, jewellery and gems have recorded a double digits growth in exports during the month under review over the last year.

The export of these products such as footballs, surgical goods and leather products is steadily on decline for the last three years but the authorities have turned blind eyes to these sectors, which provide employment to thousands of people.

Official figures showed that the export of rice dipped 1.13 per cent in July of the current fiscal year over the last year. However, of these export of basmati up was by 39.97 per cent during the period under review. While export of other rice declined by 44.34 per cent during the same period.

The export of sport goods declined by 3.71 per cent during the period under review as against the same period of last year. Of these, export of footballs declined by 36.02 per cent but the export of gloves rose by 576.58 per cent during the same period.

The leather goods (garments and gloves) export was down by 27.09 per cent during July 2007 over last year. Of the leather goods, export of leather garments declined by 12.29 per cent, leather gloves by 53.93 per cent and other leather manufacturers by 86.01 per cent.

The export of footwear declined by 5.10 per cent in July 2007 over the same month of the last year. Of these, export of leather footwear dipped by 7.35 per cent, canvas footwear by 6.20 per cent. However, export of other leather footwear was up by 14.76 per cent. The export of auto parts declined by 33.31 per cent.

The export of surgical instruments and medical equipment up by 10.03 per cent; carpets, rugs and mats up by 11.05 per cent; engineering goods 4.44 per cent during the month.