ISLAMABAD: Exports of textile and clothing products posted almost an eight per cent growth year-on-year to reach $8.8 billion in the first eight months of 2017-18, the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) reported on Wednesday.

An official in the textile division said that 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, he added.

The main driver of this growth was the value-added textile sector. Exports of ready-made garments went up 13.1pc in the eight months in value and 12.8pc in quantity. Similarly, exports of knitwear edged up 13.3pc in value and 2.7pc in quantity during the period under review.

Exports of bedwear went up 4.5pc in value and 2.1pc in quantity. However, exports of towel posted a negative growth of 0.4pc in value while in quantity terms it increased by 1.9pc.

In the category of primary commodities, exports of cotton yarn witnessed a year-on-year rise of 1.8pc while those of yarn other than cotton went up by 31.9pc.

Proceeds from raw cotton exports recorded a year-on-year increase of 38pc while the total export proceeds posted a growth of 11.6pc to $14.8 billion in July-February 2018 versus $13.3bn over the corresponding period of last year.

The non-textile exports were up by 17.6pc to $6bn in July-Feb 2018 from $5.1bn over the corresponding period of last year, reflecting an increase of 17.6pc.

Published in Dawn, March 22nd, 2018