Regional exports post marginal growth

Pakistan’s exports to nine regional countries posted a negative growth of 1.32 per cent in the first four months of the current fiscal year from a year ago mainly driven by a drop in export proceeds to China, the latest data released by the State Bank of Pakistan showed. The country’s exports to Afghanistan, China, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, India, Iran, Nepal, Bhutan and the Maldives account for a small amount of $1.264 billion — just 13.22pc of Pakistan’s total global exports of $9.56bn in July-October. China tops the list of Pakistan’s regional exports leaving other populous countries India and Bangladesh behind. But Pakistan’s exports to China posted negative growth in the first four months. The bulk of the regional exports share, which accounts for 53.66pc, is with China while the remaining is for eight countries. Pakistan’s exports to China declined 11.15pc to $678.38m in July-October from $763.57m in 4MFY22. The decrease in export proceeds was noted for the first time in the post-Covid period.