ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s non-textile exports grew 27.40 per cent year-on-year to $11.25 billion in the first 11 months of the outgoing fiscal year owing to a partial revival of international orders and the government’s support schemes.

Overall growth in the non-textile sector is mainly led by the value-added sectors. The non-textile sector has yet to receive full orders to pre-Covid levels, data compiled by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) showed on Monday.

In FY21, three sectors — leather garments, surgical instruments and engineering goods — have mainta­ined growth in export proceeds des­pite lockdowns in many countries.

In the value-added leather sector, exports of leather garments up by 12.04pc and leather gloves 13pc respectively. Contrary to this, the exports of raw leather increased by over 31.57pc during the July-May period.

Pakistan is one of the main suppliers of global surgical instruments. However, these instruments are re-marketed in western countries by famous brands. As a result, the export value of these products remains very negligible.

The export of surgical instruments posted a negative growth of 1.37pc in 11MFY22 over the same period in FY21. However, the exports of pharmaceutical products posted positive growth of 1.64pc growth during the period under review.

The export of footwear increased by 25.22pc year-on-year led by leather and canvas footwear. The export of engineering products was up 7.23pc year-on-year in FY22. However, the export of electric fans was up 2.33pc during the period under review.

The export of carpets went up by 12.80pc, while that of sports goods up 32.37pc during 11 months this year from a year ago. In the sports sector, the sales of footballs up 44.53pc in July-May this year from a year ago.

Pakistan is the official football supplier to the next FIFA World Cup to start in November in Doha, Qatar.

In the budget 2021-22, the government has proposed several measures including a reduction in duty on raw materials to promote exports of pharmaceutical, plastic, chemicals, engineering, and value-added textile products.

Data compiled by the PBS showed the food basket posted growth of 24.23pc in the 11 months of the current fiscal year from a year ago.

Under this category, exports of rice witnessed a growth of 22.62pc year-on-year to $2.27bn. In quantity terms, the exports of rice reached 4.47m tonnes this year against 3.36m tonnes over the corresponding period of last year.

The break-up showed that basmati exports in value increased by 24.75pc and 25.24pc in quantity while non-basmati exports were up by 21.81pc in value and 34.32pc in quantity.

The export of spices was up by 17.25pc, followed by oilseeds, nuts 115.6pc, meat and products 2.12pc. The export of fish products increased by 1.77pc. Foreign sales of fruits and tobacco rose 6.23pc and 55.23pc, respectively, during the period.

Published in Dawn,June 21st, 2022