Food imports into Pakistan has increased by 2.68 percent during the first three quarters of the current fiscal year compared with the corresponding period of last year.
The food imports into the country during July-March (2015-16) were recorded at $3.98 compared with the imports of $3.835 million during July-March (2014-15), according to latest data of Pakistan Bureau of Statistics.
During the period under review, imports of milk, cream and milk food increased by 2.44 percent, from $188.65 million to $193.25 million. The imports of dry fruits and nuts were recorded at $105.04 million compared to the imports of $81.783 million, showing an increase of 28.45 percent.
Imports of tea increased from $262.39 million to $403.92 million, showing growth of 53.94 percent while the import of spices grew from $74.02 to $105.73 million, an increase of 42.84 percent. Imports of soybean oil increased by 303 percent by going up from $37.318 million last year to $150.64 during the current year while the import of pulses (leguminous vegetable) increased by 56.24 percent by going up from $284.42 million to $444.38 million.