ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s textile and clothing exports revived in July increasing 14.4 per cent year-on-year to $1.272 billion compared to $1.112bn in the corresponding month of last year, data released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics showed on Monday.

The easing of lockdown in the North American and European countries — top export destinations for Pakistani textile goods will help revive the sinking exports. The Covid-19 has collapsed the demand for country’s exports during the last four months.

Read: Pakistan's top export destinations have been devastated by Covid-19. What does it mean for our trade?

However, there has been a revival in international orders for Pakistani products since June whereas exports through land routes were also allowed to Iran and Afghanistan. It was only in February when the textile and clothing exports jumped nearly 17pc on a year-on-year basis. This growth was reported after a long time as the past few years had been marred by single-digit increases.

Details showed ready-made garments exports jumped by 18.04pc in value and drifted much lower in quantity by 32.82pc during July, while those of knitwear edged up 20.42pc in value and 14.49pc in quantity, bed wear posted positive growth of 25.30pc in value and 6.36pc in quantity.

Towel exports increased by 21.40pc in value and 26.98pc in quantity, whereas those of cotton cloth rose 1.15pc in value and dipped by 22.31pc in quantity.

The government lifted the ban on exports of seven products classified as personal protective equipment (PPE) in a bid to allow manufacturers to honor international orders.

Exporters are receiving inquiries about PPEs from foreign buyers as government allowed exports of disposable gowns, disposable gloves, face shields, biohazard bags, goggles, shoe covers and hand sanitisers with immediate effect.

Previously, the government allowed exports of textile masks as well. The cabinet is expected to allow export of surgical mask and N-95 on Wednesday.

Among primary commodities, cotton yarn exports dipped by 37.88pc, while yarn other than cotton by 47.53pc. However, export of made-up articles — excluding towels — surged by 26.04pc, and tents, canvas and tarpaulin increased by a massive 155.86pc during the month under review. The export of raw cotton declined by 100pc during the month under review.

The import of textile machinery dropped by 33.91pc during the first month of current fiscal year — a sign that no expansion or modernisation projects were taken up by the textile industry during the month.

The country’s textile and clothing exports posted a negative growth of over 6pc year-on-year to $12.526bn in the fiscal year 2019-20 compared to $13.327bn in the corresponding period last year.

Published in Dawn, August 18th, 2020