KARACHI: The representative of business community has refuted the government claims of increase in exports, saying that trade of all the major goods have declined in fiscal year 2014-15.
Pakistan Apparel Forum (PAF) Chairman and Value Added Textile Forum Chief Coordinator Muhammad Jawed Bilwani, while talking to media, said that the government’s claims were just “wishful thinking”.
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According to the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, overall exports have declined by 5pc during the fiscal year 2014-15 as compared to 2013-14. Exports of Textile Group declined by 1.78pc; Food Group declined by 1.42pc; Petroleum group and coal by 18.82pc; Other manufacturing group declined by 17.58pc; Leather Tanned declined by 11.36pc; Leather goods declined by 4.74pc; Chemical and Pharmaceuticals declined by 16.49pc and Engineering goods declined by 30.64pc.
Bilwani stated that it was indeed a great irony that Pakistan is an agricultural country but even exports of food group declined by 1.42pc. He further rued that if GSP Plus was not granted, the total exports of Pakistan would have faced a decline of about 21pc instead of 5pc as exports to regions other than EU also declined considerably.
