ISLAMABAD – The country’s food group trade deficit shrank by 25.6 percentto $972.068 million during first half of current fiscal year compared todeficit of $1.3 billion recorded during same period of previous year.The food group import during July-December (2018-19) recorded a decline of8.49 percent as it fell to $2.967 billion as compared to the import of$3.242 billion during same period of previous year, latest data issued byPakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) said.Similarly, the export of food group from the country recorded an increaseof 3.09 percent as it rose to $1.995 billion against the export of $1.935billion during July-December (2017-18).The export of fruits surged to $222.164 million in the corresponding periodof current fiscal year from $180.146 million during same period of lastyear, showing an increase of 23.32 percent. Similarly export of vegetablesalso recorded a sharp increase of 42.55 percent as it rose to $90.823million from $63.712 million in Jul-Dec (2017-18).The wheat export also increased sharply to $97.237 million during theperiod under review as compared to the export of only $45,000.The spices export increased by 10.15 percent to $40.198 million from$36.492 million, whereas export of oil, seeds, nuts, and kernals posted anincrease of 157.91 percent as it increased from $22.005 million to $56.7million in Jul-Dec (2018-19).The export of rice however decreased by 2.43 percent to $828.968 millionagainst the export of $849.634 million in same period of last year, whileexport of fish and fish preparations also fell to $183.691 million comparedto export of $200.621 million, showing a decline of 8.44 percent, the datarevealed.Meanwhile, import of milk, cream and milk food decreased by 16.71 percentto $104.44 million from $125.389 million in July-December (2017-18),whereas import of dry fruits and nuts also plunged by 75.31 percent as itfell from $87.217 million last year to $21.532 million this year.The import of palm oil also decreased by 10.19 percent to $931.659 millionduring the period under review from $1.037 billion in same period of lastyear
Yet another good news for Pakistan on the economic front
