PESHAWAR, July 13: Goods worth Rs51 billion were exported to Afghanistan via NWFP during 2004-05 financial year registering a growth by about 37 per cent in comparison with the 2003-04 fiscal year, according to official sources.
Official and business circles said that exports made to the war-torn country from different land routes of the Frontier province, via Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata), constituted more than 80 per cent of the country’s total exports to Afghanistan in 2004-05.
Except for a few products which recorded marginal decrease, exports of several items rose significantly during the last financial year.
However, among all the products exported to Afghanistan, via NWFP, during the last financial year the exports of Jet A-I oil topped the list recording substantial growth.
Exports of jet A-I oil via NWFP to Afghanistan, in the 2004-05, stood at Rs10.3 billion against Rs6.9 billion in the 2003-04 and Rs2.6 billion in 2002-03.
Transport sector, cement manufacturing units and plastic mate manufacturing units - in the case of NWFP - were benefited the most due to growth recorded by exports to Afghanistan.
However, other than these sectors, according to business circles, manufacturers from Punjab and Karachi dealing in construction material, electric goods, packed food stuff, paints and mild steel products experienced the boom.
Exports of wheat flour recorded substantial growth during the 2004-05 financial year much to the benefit of flour mills of Punjab.
The country’s total wheat flour exports to Afghanistan, via NWFP, rose to Rs4.5 billion during the 2004-05 financial year from Rs2 billion in the 2003-04 financial year.
Exports of ghee and cooking oil also registered substantial growth. Their exports rose to Rs4.4 billion during the 2004-05 financial year up from Rs2.4 billion in the 2003-04 financial year.
Cement’s exports grew from Rs880 million in the 2003-04 to Rs2.8 billion in the 2004-05.
Mild steel products, plastic mate, paints and varnishes’ exports also grew substantially.
Plastic mate worth Rs5.9 billion was exported to Afghanistan via NWFP during the 2004-05 financial year up from the Rs285 million worth plastic mate exported in the 2003-04 financial year.
Sugar of the market value of Rs1.6 billion was exported during the last financial year against Rs1 billion exports made in the 2003-04.
Whereas, rice worth Rs1.5 billion was exported in the 2004-05 up from Rs1 billion exports made in the 2003-04 financial year.
Exports of paints and varnishes, via NWFP, grew from Rs18 million during the 2003-04 financial year to Rs2.7 billion during the 2004-05 financial year.
Similarly, exports of mild steel products rose from Rs1.1 billion in the 2003-04 financial year to Rs 3.8 billion during the 2004-05 financial year. However, the exports of fresh fruits and vegetables declined from Rs1.6 billion in the 2003-04 financial year to Rs910 million during the last financial year.
Similarly, milk and cereals’ exports also remained at a lower side as against their total exports of Rs1.4 billion in the 2003-04 financial year.
Poultry sector appears to be the worst hit as Pakistan’s poultry exports to Afghanistan via NWFP stood at Rs75 million in 2003-04 as against Rs737 million in the 2004-05 financial year.
Whereas, goods exported as part of relief activities also declined. Relief goods worth Rs1.1 billion were exported during the 2004-05 financial year down from Rs3.5 billion worth relief goods exported in the 2003-04 financial year.
