January 4, 2002	Friday	Shawwal 19, 1422

ISLAMABAD, Jan 3: Pakistan total trade with Saarc countries registered an increase of 18.12 per cent to $573.47 million in 2000-01 against $469.52 million in 1999-2000.

On quarterly basis, Islamabad’s total trade with Saarc countries stood at $157.986 million during July-October of 2001-02 — Pakistan exported $71.807 million goods to Saarc countries during, and imported $ 86.179 million goods.

However, when compared with 1998-99 the total trade decreased by 5 per cent to $573.47 million during 2000-01 from $603.686 million.

Pakistan’s major regional trading partner in 2000-01 was India, followed by Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, while the other trading partners remained at a very low level.

According to official figures made available to Dawn, Pakistan exported goods worth $ 268.43 million in the year 2000-01 against $ 274.165 million it exported in the year 1999-2000, registering a marginal decrease of 2.09 per cent.

And in comparison to the country’s exports, which stood at $ 391.64 million in 1998-99 to these countries, it declined by 31.46 per cent.

On the other hand, Pakistan imported goods worth $305.04 million in 2000-01 as against import bill of $195.355 million in 1999-2000, showing an increase of 65.14 per cent. While in comparison to the import bill worth $ 212.046 million 1998-99, it increased by 43.85 per cent.

Officials sources told Dawn that the total trade of Pakistan with Saarc countries has remained between $300-500 million during the past ten years. Pakistan exports have registered a marginal increase from $258.9 million in 1992-93 to $268.43 million in 2000-01.

But Islamabad’s imports have almost remained stagnant during this period except for in 1996-97, when it registered an increase from $149 million in 1992-93 to $285.9 million in 1996-97. However, it was the year 2000-01, when the country’s imports slashed up to $ 305.04 million.

Similarly, during 1997-98, Saarc countries’ share in Pakistan’s total exports accounted for only 3.5 per cent and 2.3 per cent of its total imports.

Out of total Pakistan exports to Saarc countries, Islamabad exported goods to India worth $55.397 million during 2000-01, $133.422 million to Bangladesh, $75.321 million to Sri Lanka, $2.252 million to Nepal, $1.756 million to Maldives and $0.282 million to Bhutan.

Pakistan total import bill stood at $305.04 million during 2000-01, out of which, Islamabad imported goods worth $235.086 million from India during 2000-01, $33.208 million from Bangladesh, $35.336 million from Sri Lanka, $1.006 million from Nepal, $0.260 million from Bhutan and $0.160 million from Maldives.