Non-textile exports soar to $12.5bn

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s non-textile exports grew 25.85 per cent year-on-year to $12.46 billion in the outgoing 2021-22 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 Thursday.

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

In the value-added leather sector, exports of leather garments grew 10.15pc and leather gloves 10.60pc, respectively. Contrary to this, the exports of raw leather increased by over 28.50pc during the previous fiscal year.

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.

Exports of surgical instruments posted a negative growth of 1.29pc in FY22. However, the exports of pharmaceutical products shrank 0.49pc.