Despite pandemic, exports of knitwear pick up pace.

Knitwear and hosiery exports increased 12.3 percent year-on-year in the first four months (July-October) of current fiscal year despite the global economic disruption caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

This textile sub-sector earned the highest amount of foreign exchange worth $1.183 billion for the country compared to earnings of $1.053 billion in the same four-month period of previous year.

According to statistics compiled by Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS), the number was 25 percent more than exports of readymade or woven garments, 32 percent more than exports of bed wear and 318 percent more than exports of towels.

"The knitwear garment sector is maintaining the top position in the textile group and other groups," remarked Pakistan Hosiery Manufacturers and Exporters Association Central Chairman Riaz Ahmed. PHMA South Zone Chairman Tariq Munir appreciated the government for taking all necessary measures for enhancing exports by prioritising export sectors and introducing separate gas and electricity tariffs for the five major export-oriented industries.

PHMA North Zone Chairman Farrukh Iqbal emphasised that if the government considered proposals of the knitwear sector, resolved all its problems, ensured smooth availability of basic raw material - cotton yarn - and uninterrupted supply of utilities, the sector could further enhance its exports by approximately 30-50 percent annually.

"Global exports of knitwear stood at $237 billion in...