Arsalan Ali

Pakistan exported goods worth $85.317 million to Central Asian countries during the first six months of the current fiscal, showing a decline of 8%, WealthPK reports. According to the data released by the State Bank, exports from Pakistan to Central Asian countries dipped to $85.317 million in the first half of the ongoing financial year from $92.839 million during the corresponding period of the previous fiscal.

The data shows that Pakistan’s exports to Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Turkmenistan declined by 45% on a year-on-year basis and stood at $11.524 million in December 2022 as compared to $20.961 million during the same month of the previous fiscal.

Imports from Central Asian countries were recorded at $18.652 million during the first six months of the ongoing fiscal. Pakistan had a trade surplus of $66.665 million with Central Asian countries. However, it recorded a trade deficit with Tajikistan and Turkmenistan. Uzbekistan remained the top destination for Pakistani goods, followed by Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Turkmenistan.

On a year-on-year basis, exports to Uzbekistan surged by 45% and reached $5.598 million in December 2022, compared to $3.862 million during the same month of the previous year. During the first half of the current fiscal, total export from Pakistan to Uzbekistan were recorded at $40.782 million, up from $20.731 million during the same period of the previous financial year, registering a 96% increase. The trade surplus with Uzbekistan stood at $30.885 million.

Exports to Kazakhstan declined by 70% and dipped to $4.726 million in December 2022, compared to $15.910 million during the same month of the last fiscal. Exports to Kazakhstan stood at $39.621 million in the first half of the current fiscal, showing a decrease of $28.957 million against $68.578 million in the corresponding period of the previous year. The trade surplus with Kazakhstan was recorded at $35.858 million.

Exports from Pakistan to Tajikistan in December 2022 reached $0.727 million against $0.855 in December 2021, showing a decline of 15%. During the first six months of the ongoing financial year, exports to Tajikistan grew by 47% and reached $2.653 million, up from $1.796 million during the same period a year ago. A trade deficit of $0.379 was recorded with Tajikistan.

Exports to Kyrgyzstan reached $0.414 million in December 2022, showing an increase of $0.175 million against $0.239 million in December 2021. The total exports from Pakistan to Kyrgyzstan surged by 93% and reached $2.057 million during the first half of the current fiscal as compared to $1.066 million in the corresponding period of the previous year. A trade surplus of $1.922 million was recorded with Kyrgyzstan. Total exports from Pakistan to Turkmenistan in the first six months of the ongoing financial year were recorded at $0.204 million compared to $0.668 million during the same period of the previous fiscal, according to the data available with WealthPK.

Credit : Independent News Pakistan-WealthPk