Karachi: A local newspaper reported that Pakistan maintained a trade surplus with regional countries during the first two months of financial year 2017-18 aside India.
The balance of regional trade remains in Pakistan’s favour, due to an increase in exports in first two months of FY 2017-18.
Besides growing antagonism between Pakistan and India, the share of the latter’s exports to Pakistan grew by 12pc to touch $216m in the first two months of FY 2017-18.
Pakistan’s exports to India declined by 35.3pc to touch $58m, contributing to a rise in bilateral trade deficit of $158m.
The country’s exports to Iran stood at $5m during first two months of FY 2017-18, registering a fall of 17.4pc year-on-year (YoY).
Exports to Afghanistan increased 66pc to touch $213.5m during July-August and imports from them were a meagre $15m. This converted into a trade surplus of more than $198m.
And exports to Bangladesh were recorded at $105m for June & August. Imports from Bangladesh in the same period touched $6.5m, registering a 60pc increase in same period.
Imports from Sri Lanka stood at $11.1m, rising 21pc during July & August. Exports from Pakistan to Sri Lanka touched $49.3m, registering a year-on-year (YoY) increase of 31pc.
Pakistan trade surplus with regional economies for the first two months of FY 2017-18, stood at $193m. Regional exports touched $449.6m, while imports were recorded at $256m during the period under review.
