ISLAMABAD, Nov 9: Pakistan’s export of traditional products — rice, carpet, leather, engineering and footwear — declined by an average 15 per cent during the first quarter (July-September) of the fiscal year 2007-08 over the corresponding period of last year.

Official figures, compiled by the commerce ministry, showed that export of these products would remain short of the respective targets announced in the last trade policy as the same products from other countries, including India and China were replacing Pakistani products in the international market.

The commerce ministry has turned blind eye to these sectors, as focus of government’s policies was just to doll out subsidies to textile sector for the last two-and-a-half years.

While exports from these sectors were steadily on the decline, many industries providing jobs to thousands of people were either declared sick or closed operation.

The statistics showed that negative growth in export of these products in the first two months (July-August) was around 10 per cent this year over the same period last year.

This indicates that percentage decline in export of these products will grow further in the months ahead if government did not take any remedial measures.

Product-wise details showed export of rice dipped by 2.41 per cent during the first quarter of the current fiscal year over last year.

Of these, export of non-basmati was down by 39.05 per cent. However, export of basmati rice rose by 20.53 per cent due to greater demand of the commodity in international market.

The carpets, rugs and mats exports recorded a negative growth of 4.23 per cent; and leather goods (garments and gloves) by 18.42 per cent during the period under review over last year.

Of the leather goods export of leather garments declined by 2.43pc, leather gloves 53.21pc and other leather manufacturers 42.55 pc.

Export of footwear declined by 6.92 per cent during the months of June-Sept 2007 over same months of last year. Of these, export of leather footwear dipped 17.43 per cent, canvas footwear 40.16 pc. However, other footwear recorded a growth of 79.08 per cent.

The statistics showed that export of engineering goods declined by 12.71 per cent, auto parts 24.51 per cent, furniture 13.72 per cent during the period under review over last year.

A further analysis showed that export of surgical instruments and medical equipment increased by 8.97 per cent, cutlery goods 44.56 per cent, gur and gur products 18.42 per cent, cement 0.19 per cent, molasses 18.37 per cent, jewellery 254.53 per cent, and gems 201.23 per cent during the period under review over the last year.

The export of sport goods was up by 7.53 per cent during the period under review over last year.

Of these, export of footballs increased by 16.80 per cent and gloves 184.74 per cent. However, export of other footwear declined by 50.06 per cent during the same period.

Among the primary commodities, export of fish products declined by 24.36 per cent, fruits 6.84 per cent, leguminous vegetables 29.27 per cent, tobacco 7.12 per cent, and all other items 59.51 per cent. However, export of vegetables was up by 88.81 per cent, spices 1.99 per cent, oil seeds 84.78 per cent, and meat 72.98 per cent.