IT is indeed alarming that the country’s imports have crossed $30 billion whereas our exports are on the decline. This will create a negative impact on our economy.

There is strong need for analysing the imports itemwise to determine what are the essentials and non-essentials. Finance and commerce ministries must focus on discouraging non-essential imports.

I have personally come across Chinese apples and Indian bananas available at exorbitant prices. Can’t we survive without foreign fruits as well as other non-essential items?

Pakistanis should help curb imports of non-essential items.

Engr Riaz Akbar

Wah Cantt

Published in Dawn, June 25th, 2017