Pakistan is currently grappling with economic challenges, but concerted efforts are underway to navigate these difficulties.
The Pakistan Bureau of Statistics recently published data on the country’s trade performance, highlighting some positive trends in the ongoing economic recovery. According to the latest figures, from July 2023 to April 2024, Pakistan’s exports grew 9.10 percent annually. Concurrently, imports decreased by 4.09 percent.
These shifts have resulted in a substantial decrease in the trade deficit. The report indicates that the trade deficit stood at $19.51 billion during this period, marking a 17.09 per cent decrease from the $23.53 billion recorded in the corresponding period of the previous fiscal year. Notably, the trade deficit for April alone was recorded at $846 million.
The Federal Bureau of Statistics noted that the total export volume reached $25.28 billion in the first ten months of the current fiscal year, up 9.10 per cent from $23.17 billion during the same period last year.
For April 2024, Pakistan’s exports generated $2.34 billion in foreign exchange, reflecting a 10.02 per cent increase compared to the $2.13 billion recorded in April 2023. On the imports front, expenditures totalled $46.79 billion for the last fiscal year, with April 2024 alone witnessing an import bill of $4.72 billion. This represents a significant 58.43 per cent increase, or an additional $2.98 billion, compared to the previous year.
These statistics provide a snapshot of the current economic landscape and reflect the ongoing adjustments and strategies being implemented to stabilize and grow Pakistan’s economy.