ISLAMABAD, Aug 27: The surge in imports of machinery, metal group and petroleum products widened the trade deficit by 164.52 per cent to $724.585 million during the first month of the current fiscal year, as against $273.921 million during the same month last year.

Official figures released here on Friday by the Federal Bureau of Statistics (FBS) showed that imports of machinery increased by 56.59 per cent, petroleum products 6.21 per cent and metal group by 20.91 per cent during the month under review over the same month last year.

The total import bill of machinery increased to $501.396 million in July 2005, as against $320.509 million in the same month last year.

Product-wise analysis showed that imports of textile machinery increased by 90.32 per cent and electrical machinery and apparatus by 1.14 per cent in July over the same month last year. However, imports of power generating machinery declined by 19.07 per cent, office machines 34.81 per cent and construction and mining machine by 68.89 per cent during the month under review.

Imports of road-motor vehicle registered a growth of 37.57 per cent, aircraft, ship and boats 205.58 per cent and agricultural machinery and implements by 200.85 per cent.

In quantity and value term, the import bill of petroleum products increased by 6.21 per cent to $367.882 million during the month under review, as against $346.356 million in the same month last year.

The import of metal group increased by 20.91 per cent to $104.170 million during the month under review as compared to $86.152 million in the same month last year. However, imports of agriculture and other chemicals declined by 7.30 per cent to $310.067 million, as against $334.488 million during the same month last year.