ISLAMABAD: The first month of the new fiscal year saw a surge of 68.72 per cent in the country’s trade deficit with nine neighbouring countries, taking it to $1.041 billion from $0.617bn over the last year.

Experts attributed the jump mainly to an increase in imports from China and India.

Since the rise in deficit remains unchanged from the previous fiscal year, it may cause big problems for policymakers. In FY24, the trade deficit was recorded at $9.506 billion, up 49pc from $6.382bn in the preceding fiscal.

Exports to China, Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka saw an upward trend in July, but exports to other countries in the region continued to decline during the month under review, according to data compiled by the State Bank of Pakistan.

The value of Pakistan’s........

© Dawn Business