Pakistan’s textile exports rose 7.2 per cent during the first eight months of the current fiscal year. Textile exports make up around 60 per cent of the country’s total exports. Knitwear exports went up 13.43 per cent year-on-year, but came down 9.11 per cent month-on-month, whereas bed linen shrank 3.27 per cent year-on-year and 5.24 per cent month-on-month.

Readymade garments stepped up 7.8 per cent year-on-year, but dropped 8.7 per cent month-on-month. Cotton cloth exports increased 13 per cent during February compared to the same month a year before, but fell 3.4 per cent compared to January. However, the country saw its total textile exports decline by 10 per cent between 2011 and 2018.

Other economies like China, India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Vietnam saw their exports grow at a compound rate of 20 per cent or above during the same period.

Vietnam a relative newcomer in the sector posted a compound export growth of 107 per cent followed by Bangladesh with 61 per cent. In value added textiles, particularly garments and knitwear, Pakistan lacks the variety both in products and the types of fabrics used. The country does not produce the blended yarn and blended fabric that the global market demands.