Regional exports swell over 16pc

The first five months of the current fiscal year witnessed a double-digit growth of 16.3 per cent in exports to nine regional countries, mainly driven by an increase in shipments to China, data compiled by the State Bank of Pakistan showed on Monday. The country’s exports to Afghanistan, China, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, India, Iran, Nepal, Bhutan and the Maldives rose to $1.855 billion in July-November FY24 from $1.595bn over the corresponding months of last year. In FY23, exports to regional countries dipped 21.1pc to $3.331bn on a year-on-year basis. Pakistan’s bulk of the regional exports share, which accounts for 60pc, is with China while the rest is with the remaining eight countries.