ISLAMABAD, Dec 31: Senators on Friday criticized the government’s trade policy and expressed their concern over the constant increase in the trade deficit.

During the question hour, the opposition as well as the treasury senators gave a tough time to Minister of State for Commerce Hamid Yar Harraj who, at one stage, himself admitted that the country’s imports were increasing with a fast pace as compared to its exports.

“I agree that our imports are fast increasing as compared to exports and it is a matter of concern,” the minister said in response to the criticism of the members on the government’s trade policy. He, however, also claimed that their economic policies were far better than the previous regimes. He claimed that the country’s investment portfolio and foreign direct investment (FDI) had been increasing.

It started when Senator Chaudhry Anwar Bhinder of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League (PML) pointed out that according to a reply to a question by the commerce ministry, the export of sports goods had been decreased in the last two years. He said that it was a matter of concern because there was a time when Pakistan was considered a big exporter of the sports goods.

According to the reply given by the commerce minister in response to a question of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) Senator Mohammad Ali Brohi, Pakistan’s export of sports goods was Rs324.75 million in 2003-04 and Rs307 million in 2004-05. In response to a question of PPP Senator Dr Akbar Khawaja, the minister told the House that the trade deficit during July- November 2005 was $4.554 billion.