ISLAMABAD, May 18: Export to Afghanistan rose by 2.61 per cent to $94.3 million during the July-March period of the current financial year against $91.9 million during the same period last year.

Well-placed sources told Dawn that the government expected that exports would pick up in May and June of the current financial year.

The government had allowed export of all kinds of items including vegetable ghee and cooking oil to Afghanistan under duty drawback scheme.

Official figures available with Dawn showed that export of wheat flour to Afghanistan increased by $24 million during the July-March period of current financial year in comparison to last year, tents and canvas by $1.4 million, sugar cane refine by $1.1 million, fruits and vegetables by $0.7 million and cement by $0.886 million during the same period this year.

During the first nine months, the export of rice to Afghanistan declined by $11.9 million this year in comparison to the same period of last year; veg. fats by $6.9 million; plastic goods by $4.2 million during the same period.

Talking to Dawn, the chairman, export promotion bureau (EPB), Tariq Ikram said that Pakistan’s export to Afghanistan would touch the figure of $400 to $500 million in the next few years.

He said that the export to Afghanistan did not show that growth, which was expected which he said was due to the prevailing condition in Afghanistan.

The chairman said that during his proposed visit to Kabul, he would talk to the officials of the interim government, and identify exportable products, and seek protection for the smooth flow of products into that country.

He said that every step would be taken to facilitate exporters to export their products to Afghanistan.