ISLAMABAD, Nov 5: Trade deficit recorded during first four months (July-October 2001) of the current fiscal year stood at $275 million.

According to provisional figures available with Dawn total exports during the four months amounted to $3.025 billion against $2.96 billion in the same period last year showing an improvement of 19 per cent.

Imports during the first four months amounted to $3.3 billion this year against $3.71 billion last year showing a negative growth of around 11 per cent in imports. On monthly basis, exports during October 2001 amounted to $761 million against $744 million of the same month last year showing an improvement of around 2.2 per cent.

Imports during October stood at $842 million against $979 million of October last year showing a decline of 14 per cent. In this way, trade deficit during October amounted to $81 million this year.