May 6, 2003	Tuesday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 3, 1424

ISLAMABAD, May 5: The country’s exports during July-April period of the current fiscal 2002-03 were recorded around $8.849 billion, showing 20.83 percent increase over the exports worth $7.824 billion realized in the like period of previous fiscal.

According to the provisional trade figures, the exports during the month of April, 2003 totalled around $993.6 million as against $785.9 million achieved in the like period of last fiscal, showing 26.43 percent increase.

The exports worth $993.6 million realized in the month of April 2003 are also up by 6.21 percent when compared with the exports worth $935.6 million achieved in March 2003.

During the first ten months of the current fiscal (July- April, 2002-03), the imports also witnessed 22.49 percent growth to around $10.09 billion from $8.24 billion of the same period of last financial year.

The country’s imports in April, 2003 were recorded around $1.069 billion witnessing an increase of 20.17 per cent over imports worth $890.06 million realized in the corresponding month of last fiscal.

The balance of trade which was minus $920.8 million during July-April period of 2001-02, has reached to minus $1.249 billion during July-April period of the current fiscal (2002-03).—APP