ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s non-textile exports fell 22 per cent to $1.296 billion during the first two months (July and August) of this fiscal year from $1.665bn a year ago, the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics said on Wednesday.

The Ministry of Commerce is monitoring export proceeds of around 45pc of total exports through policy interventions while the Ministry of Textile Industry is looking after the interest of 55pc textile and clothing export proceeds.

The commerce ministry is planning to announce a series of initiatives in its three-year strategic trade policy framework (2015-18) to promote exports of mainly non-textile products. The government has already announced its textile policy, which is being implemented.

During the two months under review, exports from textile and clothing sectors dropped by around 1.15pc, while that of non-textile products slipped 22pc.

Product-wise details show a year-on-year decline of 75pc in exports of petroleum products, primarily because of a 100pc drop in exports of petroleum naphtha. Exports of petroleum crude fell 32.96c during the period.

Carpet and rug exports edged lower by 9.74pc during July-Aug while export of sports goods dipped by 14.59pc. Foreign sales of footballs, however, went up by 2.46pc.

Exports of tanned leather dropped 17.8pc in July-Aug compared to the same period of last year.

Leather products exports declined by 11pc during the period under review. Though exports of value-added leather products dropped in July-Aug, proceeds of leather gloves grew 2.51pc year-on-year.

Footwear exports dipped by 21.9pc, mainly driven by a 24pc decline in exports of leather footwear. This will be an area of concern for the policymakers as the sector witnessed robust growth because last year because of preferential market access to the European market under GSP+ preferential tariff scheme.

Exports of surgical goods and medical instruments went up by 8.62pc, while that of engineering goods dipped 27.65pc during the period under review over last year.

Year-on-year exports of gur fell 56pc, cement 34pc, handicrafts 99pc, molasses 43pc, furniture 36pc, and gems 71pc. However, exports of jewellery witnessed a paltry growth of 0.16pc.

In the food basket, exports of rice — both basmati and non-basmati — declined by 7.5pc in July-Aug. Exports of oil, tobacco, leguminous vegetables, and vegetables also dropped compared to the preceding year. However, exports of wheat and meat rose during the two-month period.

Published in Dawn, September 24th , 2015

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