July-Aug deficit at $265m

Published September 6, 2002

ISLAMABAD, Sept 5: Pakistan suffered a trade deficit of $265.21 million during the first two months of fiscal 2002-03, down 29.38 per cent from the same period of previous year.

According to the aggregate foreign trade data released by the Federal Bureau of Statistics here on Thursday, the exports during the period under review totalled $1,171.35 million. This is 17.02 per cent more than July and August in 2001.

Likewise, the imports at $1,900.85 million surged by 9.90 per cent. Thus the fraction of imports paid for by exports improved to 90.14 per cent during the period under review. In the first two months of previous financial year, 84.67 per cent of imports were covered by exports.

Further analysis of the figures showed that for the first time in a long period, the exports are not only abreast of the target of $10.1 billion for the current financial year but ahead of it.

During August 2002, the exports amounted to $896.90 million — 9.83 per cent more than during the previous month. As compared to the corresponding month of previous year, the exports registered an increase of 14.92 per cent.

As a result, the trade deficit for the single month of August stood at $110.55 million, which is 51.29 per cent less than for the same period of previous year.

Opinion

Respite needed

Respite needed

All one can fear is a familiar accounting exercise that aims to extract a few more rupees from a narrow, weary economic base.

Editorial

Soft on traders
08 Jun, 2026

Soft on traders

THE Fixed Tax Asaan Scheme for traders with an annual turnover of up to Rs200m has been designed as a ‘pragmatic...
Ceasefire in name
Updated 08 Jun, 2026

Ceasefire in name

Both sides accuse the other of violating the truce that was supposed to halt the conflict in April, yet neither appears willing to abandon negotiations altogether.
Damaged childhoods
08 Jun, 2026

Damaged childhoods

CHILD abuse is so prevalent that the UN ranked Pakistan as the least safe country for children. Even so, more than...
JAAC ban
Updated 07 Jun, 2026

JAAC ban

Though the JAAC’s demands are open to scrutiny, banning any political organisation — as long as it remains committed to peaceful activism — is undemocratic.
GB election
Updated 07 Jun, 2026

GB election

It is important that whichever party ultimately forms the government puts the needs of the people of GB above everything else.
ODI win
07 Jun, 2026

ODI win

AT last, the Pakistan cricket team had something to celebrate: a One-day International series victory against...