Syed Muhammad Asim Shah, Chairman of All Pakistan Bedsheet and Upholstery Manufacturers Association (APBUMA), said that export orders for garments for the Christmas season have dropped by 30% to 40% as the production cost has increased due to 10%-15% rise in yarn prices.

He said we are disappointed because despite offering competitive prices to foreign buyers, the importers are reluctant to place orders considering Pakistan an unreliable supplier. His association has also tried to convince foreign buyers that terrorist activities had not impacted productive sectors of the economy. He disclosed that during his recent visit to Europe and the US, the foreign buyers said they could not risk their Christmas sales due to acute power shortage in Pakistan.

Garment orders for Christmas this year were 40% less than last year. Average garment exports for Christmas amount to $1.2 billion, which will fall to $750-800 million this year. On the other hand, when the exporters persuaded the foreign buyers to book some orders, yarn rates  increased abruptly in the local market.