ISLAMABAD (February 07 2003) : The country's exports have increased by 19.1 percent to $6.141 billion during the first seven months (July-Jan) of the current fiscal as compared to $5.157 billion in the corresponding period last year.
According to the provisional foreign trade figures, the imports have shown a growth of 19.6 percent during this period to $6.853 billion from $5.730 billion.
Though both the exports and the imports have shown a substantial growth during July-Jan whereas the trade deficit has widened to $711 million or 24.2 percent as compared to $572 million in the same period last year.
The trade figures also reveal that exports stood at $944 million in January against $863 million in December, indicating an increase of 9.4 percent while imports showed 3.2 percent growth to $1.065 billion from $1.032 billion in December.
However, the exports jumped by 35 percent to $944 million in January this year from $699.6 million in the corresponding month last year while the imports increased by 24.7 percent when we compare the statistics of January with the same month of previous year.
The sources said the main factor behind the unprecedented increase in the exports during December was the release of consignments by the US customs authorities before Christmas and New Year.
Commerce Minister Humayun Akhtar Khan was of the view that export target of $10.4 billion for the current fiscal would be achieved as progress in this direction was satisfactory.
He, however, said he would try to visit all the international trade fairs, which according to him, would be instrumental in enhancing exports.
