By Arsalan Ali Islamabad, April 01, (INP-WealthPK): Exports from Pakistan in February 2022 were worth Rs497,602 million (provisional) as against Rs460,856 million in January 2022 and Rs329,033 million in February 2021, showing an increase of 7.97% over January 2022 and of 51.23% over February 2021, reports WealthPK. According to the provisional figures compiled by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS), exports during the first eight months (July-Feb) of FY 2021-22 were worth Rs3,520,242 million (provisional), 32.77% more than the corresponding period of the FY 2020-21 (Rs2,651,319 million). The main export items in February 2022 were knitwear (Rs73,131 million), readymade garments (Rs62,500 million), bed wear (Rs46,308 million), cotton cloth (Rs41,308 million), rice others (Rs31,688 million), cotton yarn (Rs22,505 million), towels (Rs17,782 million), rice basmati (Rs12,309 million), made-up articles (excl. towels & bedwear) (Rs11,474 million) and plastic materials (Rs8,247 million). Percentage change for the value of export commodities in million rupees in February 2022 over January 2022 and Feb 2021: Exports of knitwear increased 7.02 percent in February 2022 compared to January 2022 but increased 57.39 percent compared to February 2021. Similarly, readymade garments increased 7.16 percent in February 2022 compared to January 2022 but increased 64.71 percent compared to February 2021. Bedwear in February 2022 showed a decrease of 0.65 percent over January 2022 but a rise of 43.09 percent over February 2021. Imports during February 2022 amounted to Rs1,042,396 million (provisional) as against Rs1,064,154 million in January 2022 and Rs732,174 million during February 2021, showing a decrease of 2.04% over January 2022 but an increase of 42.37% over February 2021. Imports during July–February 2021-2022 were worth Rs8,981,762 million (provisional) as against Rs5,497,536 million during the corresponding period of last year, showing an increase of 63.38%. The main imports during February 2022 were petroleum products (Rs91.858 million), petroleum crude (Rs63,486 million), natural gas liquified (Rs54,523 million), palm oil (Rs54,358 million), plastic materials (Rs44,855 million), medicinal products (Rs44,091 million), iron & steel (Rs41,267 million), iron & steel scrap (Rs37,606 million), electrical machinery (Rs29,875 million) and mobile phone (Rs24,921 million). Imports of petroleum products, petroleum crude, natural gas liquified, medicinal products, and mobile phones decreased in February 2022 as compared to January 2022. Percentage change for the value of import commodities in million rupees in February 2022 over January 2022 and February 2021: Imports of petroleum products decreased 23.12 percent in February 2022 compared to January 2022 but increased 71.13 percent compared to February 2021. Similarly, petroleum crude declined 6.54 percent in February 2022 compared to January 2022 but increased 88.61 percent compared to February 2021. Natural gas liquified in February 2022 showed a decrease of 16.66 percent over January 2022 but a rise of 52.58 percent over February 2021. Based on the provisional figures of imports and exports, the balance of trade/ trade deficit in February 2022 was (-)544,794 million in terms of rupee and (-)3,087 million in US dollar. The trade deficit figures cumulative from July - February 2021–2022 were (-)5,461,520 million in terms of rupees and (-)31,946 million in US dollar.