ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s trade deficit increased by 20.28 percent in the first ten months of the current financial year, official data showed on Tuesday.
According to the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS), the trade gap also rose sharply on a monthly basis by 43.50 percent.
From July to April, the deficit widened significantly due to falling exports and a continued rise in imports.
The trade shortfall reached nearly $32 billion, an increase of $5.49 billion compared to the same period last year.
Exports declined by 6.25 percent to $25.10 billion, while imports rose by 7.85 percent, crossing $57 billion.
In April, exports posted a 9.50 percent increase. However, imports surged by more than 28 percent during the same month, further widening the trade gap.
