05 December 2004	Sunday	22 Shawwal 1425

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ISLAMABAD, Dec 4: Pakistan's trade deficit rose by 464.80 per cent in the first five months (July-November) of fiscal 2004-05, against the same period of fiscal 2003-04.

Official figures, released here on Saturday by the Federal Bureau of Statistics (FBS,) showed that trade deficit stood at $2.511 billion in the five months of 2004-05, against $0.444 billion during the corresponding period of fiscal 2003-04.

A massive growth in the import of metals, petroleum products, machinery, agriculture and other chemical groups and food items resulted into increase in the import bill of the country during the period under review.

On monthly basis, the deficit soared by 739.73 per cent in November 2004, and stood at $1.091 billion against $0.129 billion in the same month of the last year.

Further break-up showed that Pakistan exported $5.370 billion goods during the five months this year against $4.835 billion during the same period of the last year, showing an increase of 11.06 per cent.

While exports registered a monthly growth of 4.15 per cent in November 2004, as it stood at $897.434 million this year against $861.638 million during the same month last year.

The import bill rose by 49.27 per cent to $7.882 billion during the July-November period of the current fiscal year against $5.280 billion during the same period of last year.

On monthly basis, the import bill increased by 100.54 per cent to $1.988 billion in November 2004, against $0.991 billion during the corresponding period last year.