Saba Javed

The imports of agricultural and other chemicals declined by 35.45% during the first seven months of the current fiscal year when compared to the imports during the same time last year. Agricultural and other chemicals worth $5.826 billion were imported between July and January 2022–23 as opposed to $9.025 billion during the same period last year.

Compared to the same period last year, when fertiliser imports totalled 996,528 metric tonnes valued at $578.362 million, 772,167 metric tonnes costing $507.870 million were imported for local consumption during the period under review. This represents a 12.19% decrease in fertiliser imports into Pakistan.

In addition, the country imported around 21,286 metric tonnes of medicinal products worth $838.580 million in the first seven months of the fiscal year 2022–23, down from 36,171 metric tonnes worth $3.397 billion imported during the same period of the previous year.

The imports of medicinal products decreased by 75.32% during the study period compared to the imports during the same period of the previous year, Nevertheless, compared to 19,154 metric tonnes worth $103.004 million during the same period last year, the imports of insecticides increased by 11.15% during the last seven months to 22,212 metric tonnes valued at $114.522 million.

To meet local needs, more agricultural chemicals worth $2.873 billion were imported from July through January 2022–23 as opposed to $3.206 billion during the same period of the previous year. On a year-on-year basis, the imports of other agricultural chemicals decreased by 10.40% during the study period.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan-WealthPk