ISLAMABAD, July 30: The import bill of eatables recorded a marginal decline of 3.98 per cent to $2.711 billion in 2006-07 as against $2.824 billion the last year. The decrease in the imports of food items occurred mainly due to decrease in import of wheat, tea and sugar. However, import of milk products, spices, pulses and edible oil increased during the year under review.

Official figures compiled by the Federal Bureau of Statistics (FBS) showed that the import bill of wheat un-milled declined by 68.70pc to $41.550 million as against $132.750 million, tea by 4.03pc to $213.815 million as against $222.782 million and sugar by 58.23pc to $260.364 million as against $623.287 million.

On the other hand, the import of milk products surged by 37.06pc to $84.146 million as against $61.394 million the last year and dry fruits and nuts up 20.67pc to $69.724 million as against $57.779 million.

An increase of 40.29pc was witnessed in import of pulses to $243.838 million as against $173.814 million and an increase of 24.33pc was recorded in palm oil $891.785 million as against $717.273 million.

Import of soyabean increased by 89.33pc to $40.646 million during the period under review as against $21.468 million, 2.10pc increase was witnessed in spices to $53.879 million as against $52.770 million and 6.74pc increase was seen in import of all other food items to $812 million as against $760.754 million.