ISLAMABAD, Aug 21: Pakistan's exports of three commodities to Sri Lanka have been on decline for the last four years. Official statistics available with Dawn showed the export of fish and fish preparation to Sri Lanka declined by 43 per cent during the year 2003-04 to $6.02 million from $10.591 million in the year 1999-2000. The export of rice was lower by 85.5 per cent to $2.885 million in the year under review from $20 million in 1999-2000.

And the export of fruits and vegetables to Sri Lanka decreased by 89.8 per cent to $2.018 million during the year 2003-04 from 1999-2000. The government has yet to take notice of the decline registered in the exports of these commodities and diversify the export base to Sri Lanka.

The statistics, however, showed that Pakistan's total exports registered a growth of 28.5 per cent to $97.842 million during the year 2003-04 as against $76.100 million in 2002-03.

And Sri Lankan exports to Pakistan registered a growth of 26.5 per cent to $48.415 million during the period under review as against $38.260 million in the previous year.

Pakistan's exports to Sri Lank in the year 1999-2000 was $96.559 million, which fell gradually in the following years.

Further analysis of the statistics showed that Pakistan's exports of medicinal and pharmaceutical products to Sri Lanka registered no growth during the year 2003-04 over the previous year. The exports of chemical materials and products registered a growth of 40 per cent to $4.04 million during the year 2003-04 as against $2.871 million in 2002-03.

And the export of cotton fabrics (woven) stood at $40.013 million in the year 2003-04 as against $25.108 million in the previous year, an increase of 67 per cent. This was the only major items which constitute major share of the total exports to Sri Lanka and registered a growth.

Pakistan's export of iron, steel and manufactured thereof to Sri Lanka registered a growth of 63.8 per cent during the year under review over the same period of the previous year. An increase of 92 per cent was registered in the export of apparel, clothing of textile materials.

The import of tea from Sri Lank registered a growth 5.78 per cent during the year 2003-04 over the previous year; 6.3 per cent growth in import of oilseeds and oleaginous fruits; 62 per cent in import of crude rubber; 44.4 per cent in crude vegetablematerials during the period under review over the same period of the previous year.