ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s exports of textile and clothing products posted nearly eight per cent growth year-on-year to $3.25 billion in the first quarter of 2017-18, the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) reported on Monday.

One of the reasons for the revival in textile and clothing exports is the cash subsidy offered under the prime minister’s exports enhancement package.

The release of pending refunds and better energy supplies also contributed towards increasing exports.

The main driver of growth was the value-added textile sector. Exports of ready-made garments went up 16pc in the first quarter in value and 19pc in quantity. Similarly, exports of knitwear edged up 9pc in value and 15pc in quantity during the period under review.

Exports of bedwear went up 7.1pc in value and 1.8pc in quantity while those of towels posted a paltry growth of 0.91pc in value.

In the category of primary commodities, exports of cotton yarn witnessed a year-on-year increase of 4.5pc while those of yarn other than cotton recorded a rise of 7.67pc.

Exports of made-up articles, excluding towels, increased 8.64pc. Art, silk and synthetic textile exports grew 88.8pc during the period under review.

However, exports of tents, canvas and tarpaulin dipped over 32pc. Proceeds from raw cotton exports recorded a year-on-year increase of 69.7pc.

The import bill of machinery, oil and eatables increased 17.5pc to $7.56bn in July-September.

The import bill of food products rose 19.3pc to $1.62bn because of growing imports of tea, spices, sugar, soybean oil and pulses.

Oil imports went up 34.45pc to $3.16bn in July-September. Imports of machinery also grew mainly because more mobile phone sets arrived in the country in July-September.

However, imports of power-generating machinery and office and construction machinery fell during the period under review. Imports of textile machinery witnessed a growth of 26.5pc in the first quarter.

Published in Dawn, October 24th, 2017