ector-wise Pakistan’s export base is narrow. Textiles are its largest export sector. These include items like cotton yarn, fabrics, garments and home textiles (bed wear, towels).

Traditionally, our exports have been less than half of our imports. This causes a large trade deficit. Even with significant curbs on imports currently our exports are still less than 50 percent of our import bill. The trade deficit is covered through remittances that stand at $30 billion, slightly higher than our annual goods exports.

Agricultural commodities have emerged as the second largest export sector. A significant portion of food exports comes from rice, with both basmati and non-basmati varieties. Among fruits and vegetables, mangoes, kinnow, dates and potatoes are exported. Pakistan also exports small quantities of seafoodthat include fish and shrimp products.

We are also into sports goods exports, led by football and cricket equipment. The sports goods exports are worth less than half a billion dollars. Sports exports reach this level when the demand for our footballs surges (periodically). Sports goods contribute about 2-3 percent of Pakistan’s total exports.

We are also into leather goods exports that include finished leather, leather garments and footwear. The leather goods exports have never achieved their true potential. Hundreds of thousands of animals are slaughtered on a daily basis in Pakistan. But the processing and finishing lacks quality. This results........

© The News on Sunday