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ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's export of traditional products went up by 15.66 per cent to $5.273 billion in the first half of the current financial year against $4.559 billion over the corresponding period of last year, mainly due to eatable products specially wheat.
The government has set a target of $10 billion for export of traditional products during 2011-12.Overall exports recorded a growth of only 3.9 per cent because exports from the textile and clothing sector plunged by over five per cent during the July-December period of the year.
Export of overall food basket increased by over 17 per cent while export of wheat and pulses recorded 100 per cent growth.
Export of fish went up by 16pc, spices 8.91pc, meat 23.33pc and all other food items 134pc. However, export of basmati all other varieties of rice declined by over 10 per cent.
Export of sports goods recorded an increase of 1.10pc. Export of footballs went up by 9.89pc, but export of gloves dropped by 7.21 pc.
The target for export of sports goods was fixed at $338.7 million for 2011-12 against $323.037 million over the same period last year.
Export of footwear products increased by 0.59 per cent. Export of leather gloves increased by 46pc, but export of leather footwear declined by 10.47pc.
Export of surgical goods and medical instruments went up by 19.17 per cent. A target of $247.1 million was set for surgical goods export in 2011-12 against $259.752 million over the last year.
Export of engineering goods increased by 36.77 per cent. The government has set exports target for engineering goods at $676.6 million against $254.942 million in the previous year.
Export of carpets dropped by 2 per cent. In the past few years, export of carpets remained stagnant following stiff competition from China and Afghanistan. Export of carpets, rugs and mats witnessed a negative growth, both in value and quantity, last year.
Handmade carpets faced stiff competition from synthetic carpets.
