Food imports into the country witnessed negative growth of 14.29 percent during the first eleven months of the ongoing fiscal year as against the corresponding period last year. Food imports into the country during July-May (2013-14) stood at $3.929 billion against imports of $4.584 billion during July-May (2012-13), according to latest data from Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS). The items that contributed in negative growth included milk, cream and milk food for infants, imports of which decreased from $148.272 million last year to $121.305 million this year, showing a decline of 18.19 percent. Imports of dry fruits and nuts also decreased by 8.74 percent, going down from $82.017 million to $74.848 million while imports of spices decreased by 34.52 percent from $95.784 million to $62.724 million. During the period under review, palm oil imports into the country decreased by 13.90 percent, going down from $2,131 million to $1,835 million while sugar imports decreased by 67.32 percent-from $13.422 million to $4.386 million. Imports of pulses during the period decreased from $337.739 million to $302.374 million, showing a negative growth of 19.95 percent, the PBS data revealed. Meanwhile, food items that witnessed positive growth during the first eleven months of the current fiscal year included tea; imports of which increased from $328.867 million to $350.534 million, the data revealed. Imports of Soyabean oil also increased 75.39 percent from $42.203 million last year to $74.019 million this year. On the other hand, imports of all other food items decreased by 19.62 percent by going down from $1,364 million to $1,096 million. Imports into the country during the first eleven months of the current year went up from $40.933 billion last year to $41.011 billion, showing increase of 0.19 percent. On the other hand, exports from the country during July-May (2012-13) were recorded at $22.321 billion against the exports of $21.487 billion, showing positive growth of 3.88 percent. Based on the figures, the trade deficit during the eleven months of current fiscal year decreased 3.89 percent.
