ISLAMABAD, Dec 20: Exports fell by 7.8 per cent during the September 11-December 8, 2001 to $1.89 billion against $2.05 billion during the same period last year.

The total number of consignments sent abroad decreased from 122,146 to 70,847 consignments this fiscal, down by 41.99 per cent or 51,299 consignments.

Following the US led attacks on Afghanistan, exports from Peshawar in general and Quetta in particular to Afghanistan and Central Asian Republics (CARs) came to a stand still, an official source told Dawn on Thursday.

The exports from Quetta to Afghanistan and CARs came to a virtual halt between Sept 29 to Dec 8. Similarly, from Peshawar no products were exported since Nov 7 to Dec 8, the source added.

Official figures released here on Thursday, said that the exports from Quetta stood $0.38 million during September 23-29 period against $0.08 million during the same period last year, an increase of 375 per cent. About 135 consignments were exported during the same period this year against 126 over the corresponding period last year, showing an increase of 7.14 per cent.

Similarly, up to November 7, exports from Peshawar stood at $6.85 million during the same period this year against $3.39 million last year, up by over 102 per cent. And about 884 consignments were sent abroad during the same period this year against 1,011 consignments last year, registering a negative growth of 12.56 per cent.

The value of exports at collectorate of exports, Karachi, dropped by 13.02 per cent to $1348.09 million during September 11-December 8 period this year against $1549.89 million last year during the same period. The number of consignments fell by 50 per cent and stood at 51,680 consignments this year against 103,546 consignments last year.

The comparative figures for exports at customs collectorate, Hyderabad indicated an increase of 30.55 per cent at $ 197.605 million last year during Sept 11-Dec 2 period to $257.977 million this year. However, the consignments decreased by 10.71 per cent.

And the exports from Lahore declined by 42.76 per cent to $49.13 million during the same period this year against $85.84 million during the same period last year. The number of consignments from Lahore dropped by 1.44 per cent at 6,150 against 6,240 consignments last year. However, no export took place after November 10 from Lahore.

Exports from Sialkot during the Sept 11-Dec 2 period increased by 9.45 per cent and stood at $107.1 million this year against $97.85 million during the same period last year. Consignments increased by 0.52 per cent from 7,847 to 7,888.

Similarly, during the same period exports increased from Faisalabad by 11.59 per cent and stood at $119.013 million this year against $106.65 million during the same period last year. The consignments increased by 24 per cent from 2,850 consignments to 3,534 consignments.

And the exports for customs collectorate, Multan, stood at $9.7 million during Sept 11-Oct 20 this year against $9.09 million over the corresponding span last year, showing an increase of 6.7 per cent. The number of consignments rose to 374 during the same period this year from 301.