Pakistan’s import bill which includes the constituent’s oil, machine and food has skyrocketed to an all high time of $21.907b during the 9 months of the current financial year (FY) and represents a 30pc increase on a year on year basis. As per the data shared by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS), it revealed that oil, machine and food increased their percentage in the total import bill to 55pc from 50pc in the previous year. Total imports of Pakistan were recorded at $38.5b in the first nine months of the current FY 2016-17.
The imports of liquefied petroleum gas recorded a 34pc rise and liquefied natural gas ballooned up by 144pc in comparison to the same period a year ago. The month of March alone saw a massive increase of 92pc in petroleum imports to reach $1.07b. On a year on year basis, imports of petroleum rose to $7.75b and corresponded to an increase of around 27.5pc.
Petroleum imports increased 27.5pc year-on-year to $7.75bn in the July-March period. In March, petroleum imports skyrocketed 92pc to $1.07bn.
A 42pc rise was recorded in machinery imports which reached $8.82b in comparison to $6.21b in the previous year. In March, machinery imports shot up by 39pc year-on-year to $1.01b.
This increase was largely attributable to an increase in imports of power generating machinery. The imports of it rose 76.5pc year-on-year to $2.37b, followed by electrical machinery and appliances whose imports rose by 25.7pc to $1.03b and other machinery by 53pc to $2.54b.
A fall of 1.7pc in telecom sector imports was recorded from the previous year which reached $1.028b. A major surge was recorded in the imports of office machinery which rose 60pc year on year, agriculture machine 35.8pc, construction machinery by 66.8pc and textile machinery 20.8pc.
An increase of 15pc on a year on basis was also recorded in the imports of food commodities which reached $4.53b. Palm oil imports reached $1.38b for pulses; food items $1.52b, pulses $721.84m, spices $102m, tea $411.4m and $130m for dry fruit and nuts.
