The carpet exports witnessed substantial increase in terms of both quantity and receipts during July 2004-April 2005 as compared to the corresponding period last year While talking to newsmen, the carpet industry's spokesman, Tahir Naeem Shaikh said, "as against 191.3 million dollars worth exports of carpet during July-April in the preceding year, carpet exports have reached US $226.7 million during the first 10 months of the current financial year, denoting an increase of 18.5 percent".
In rupee terms, carpet exports have registered an increase of 22.2 percent during the period under review, rising from Rs 11.05 billion to Rs 13.45 billion. In quantity terms too, exports have gone up from 3.49 million square meters to 3.88 million square meters.
He attributed the increase in carpet exports to the enterprising genius of Pakistan carpet exporters who have in the last few years introduced new, classical and tribal carpet designs, which are highly popular among the consumers in America and Europe. He however, expressed apprehension that in the closing months of the financial year, exports may slow down because of rise in the export refinance rate.