Pakistan’s exports to the seven regional countries witnessed an increase of 26.47 percent in first eight months of financial year (2021-22), as compared to the corresponding months of last year.
The country’s exports to the regional countries including Afghanistan, China, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, India, Nepal and the Maldives account for a small amount of $2954.604 million, which is 14.33 percent of Pakistan’s overall exports of $20616.992 million during July-February (2021-22), State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) reported. China tops the list of countries in terms of Pakistan’s exports to its neighbouring, leaving behind other countries such Bangladesh and Afghanistan.
Pakistan carried out its border trade with the farther neighbour Sri Lanka, India, Nepal and Maldives.
Pakistan’s exports to China posted growth of 57.90 percent to $1841.113 million in eight months of this year from $1165.949 million during last year while exports to Bangladesh also increased by 48.83 percent to $559.118 million from $375.669 million. The country’s export to Afghanistan however dropped by 53.02 percent to $295.866 million this year from $629.787 million whereas exports to India also dipped by 69.64 percent to $0.633 million from $2.085.
Similarly, exports to Sri Lanka rose by 59.38 percent to $249.079 million from $156.272 million in the previous year whereas exports to Nepal also increased by 58.06 percent to $4.508 million from $2.852 million, in addition exports to Maldives increased by 22.34 percent to $4.287 million from $3.504 million, it added. On the other hand, the imports from seven regional countries were recorded at $11648.278 million during the period under review as compared to $8222.207 million during last year, showing increase of 41.66 percent.
The imports from China during July-February 2021-22 were recorded at $11284.487 million against the $7863.325 million during July-February 2020-21, showing an increase of 43.50 percent during the period. Among other countries, imports from India worth $121.761 million against the imports of $126.041 million, decrease of 3.39 percent while imports from Afghanistan decreased by 2.24 percent from $122.074 million to $119.328 million. Meanwhile, imports from Sri Lanka witnessed 4.76 percent decrease from $56.350 million to $53.664 million whereas Pakistan Imports from Bangladesh recorded at $67.025 million from $53.668 million during last year. The imports from Nepal into the country witnessed increase of 8.77 percent from $0.741 million to $0.806 million, it said.
