ISLAMABAD: The 1975-76 fiscal year comes to a close at the end of this month with the national economy well set to move faster. Two outstanding achievements were a five per cent growth rate of GNP and substantial restraint on inflationary pressures. Yet another significant feature of the economy was the rise of 4 per cent in the agricultural sector compared to a negative growth rate of 2 per cent during the last financial year. Improvement in the fields of wheat, maize, rice and sugarcane shows the success of Government’s policies to encourage increased use of inputs like fertilizers, improved seeds and pesticides.

Describing the outlook for next year as bright, the current year’s Economic Survey released here today [June 4] shows marked recovery even though growth and exports do not measure up to the plan target. It is stressed that despite these shortfalls ... planned investment outlays were protected while additional and intensified resource mobilisation had to be supplemented by recourse to bank borrowing. … Pakistan’s balance of trade deficit

during the current year is estimated at 1,091 million dollars as against 1,075 million dollars in 1974-75 and 344 million dollars in 1973-74. — Islamabad Bureau

Published in Dawn, June 5th, 2026