ISLAMABAD, Aug 28: The export of textile products declined by 7.80 per cent to $784.273 million during the first month of the fiscal year 2006-07 as against $850.614 million during the same month last year.

Official figures released here on Monday by the Federal Bureau of Statistics (FBS) showed that almost all textile products, excluding towels, cotton yarn and tents witnessed negative growth during the month under review compared to July last year.

With the decline in textile products, the over all exports touched $1.220 billion during July 2006 as against $1.269 billion over the same month last year, indicating a decline of 3.85 per cent.

Besides, six per cent subsidy and other tax exemptions, the government has recently announced another Rs25 billion package for the textile sector to make them competitive in international market.

The product-wise details of textile commodities showed that the export of readymade garments declined by 7.50 per cent during the fist month of the current fiscal over last year.

The decline is despite the fact that the government has allowed 6 per cent subsidy to the sector to make them competitive with those of Bangladesh, China and India.

Export of raw cotton and cotton cloth declined by 68.05 per cent and 12.55 per cent, respectively, during the month under review over same month last year. However, export of cotton yarn rose by 20.21 per cent in July over last year’s month.

Knitwear and bedwear exports decreased by 1.11 per cent and 9.61 per cent, respectively, during the month under review over the corresponding month last year. However, export of towels rose by 16.74 per cent and tents 9.04 per cent in July 2006 over last year.

The export of made-up articles, including other textiles, declined by 39.86 per cent; art, silk and synthetic textile down by 70.11 per cent; cotton carded or combed declined by 26.02 per cent and yarn other than cotton yarn witnessed 29.37 per cent negative growth, respectively, during July 2006 over the same month last year.