Trade gap with nine regional states widens

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s trade deficit with nine neighbouring countries widened by 47.55 per cent to $4.474 billion in the first five months of the current fiscal year from $3.032bn in the corresponding period last year.

Trade analysts attributed the widening gap to higher imports from China and India. During the months under review, China’s imports increased the most, while Pakistan’s exports to the same country decreased.

In contrast to last year, exports to Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka increased unusually.