April exports down 17.66pc to Rs2.178bn MoM
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan exports witnessed a decrease in April whereas country's import increased, says Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS).
The data of exports and imports released by PBS revealed exports from Pakistan during April 2025 amounted to Rs611,289 million (provisional) against Rs740,800 million in March 2025 and Rs653,957 million during April 2024 showing a decrease of 17.48 per cent over March, 2025 and of 6.52 per cent.
The PBS data reveals that the exports in April, 2025 totalled $2,178 million (provisional) as compared to 2,645 million in March, 2025 showing a decrease of 17.66per cent over March 2025 and of 7.36per cent as compared to $ 2,351 million in April 2024.
Jul-Apr exports up 6.25pc to $26.859bn YoY
Exports during July–April 2024-25 totalled Rs7,495,497 million (provisional) against Rs7,171,883 million during the corresponding period of last year showing an increase of 4.51per cent.
In terms of US dollars, the exports during July–April 2024 - 2025 totalled $26,896 million (provisional) against $25,278 million during the corresponding period of last year showing an increase of 6.40per cent.
Main commodities of exports during April 2025 were knitwear (Rs93,448 million), readymade garments (Rs84,968 million), bed wear (Rs54,922 million), rice others (Rs45,070 million), cotton cloth (Rs35,474 million), towels (Rs23,748 million), made-up articles (excl towels and bedwear), (Rs15,302 million), fish and fish preparations, (Rs13,470 million), basmati rice (Rs12,840 million) and petroleum products (excl top Naphta) (Rs12,811 million).
Imports into Pakistan during April, amounted to Rs1,575,176 million (provisional) as againstRs1,352,310 million in March 2025 and Rs1,347,817 million during April 2024 showing an increase of 16.48per cent over March 2025 and of 16.87per cent.
In terms of US dollars, the imports in April 2025 totalled $ 5,611 million (provisional) as compared to $ 4,828 million in March 2025 showing an increase of 16.22per cent over March, 2025 and of 15.79per cent as compared to $ 4,846 million in April, 2024.
Imports during July–April 2024 - 2025 totalled Rs13,463,700 million (provisional) as againstRs12,732,232 million during the corresponding period of last year showing an increase of 5.75per cent.
In terms of US dollars, the imports during July – April, 2024 - 2025 totaled $48,292 million (provisional) as against $44,900 million during the corresponding period of last year showing an increase of 7.55per cent.
Main commodities of imports during April 2025 were petroleum crude (Rs151,470 million),electrical machinery and apparatus (Rs150,199 million), petroleum products (Rs139,114 million), palm oil (Rs83,674 million), iron and steel (Rs70,923 million), natural gas liquefied (LNG) (Rs66,043 million), plastic materials (Rs64,101 million), raw cotton (Rs56,960 million), iron and steel scrap (Rs42,018 million) and motor cars (CKD/SKD) (Rs38,687 million).
Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Express Tribune
an hour ago
- Express Tribune
K-P to unveil Rs2tr tax-free budget
The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government is set to present a Rs2,000 billion budget tomorrow, with over Rs1,800 billion allocated for current expenditures. The budget will show a surplus of Rs180 billion and will not introduce any new taxes. However, the scope and rate of existing taxes will be expanded. A total of Rs433 billion has been earmarked for development projects, including funds for the development of the newly merged tribal districts. The government will also announce the imposition of an "education emergency" in the new fiscal year. Under this initiative, furniture will be provided to 100 per cent of public schools. To boost its own revenues, the province has set a 40 per cent higher target for provincial tax collection compared to the current fiscal year. The new budget includes the establishment of four additional cardiac centers in addition to the existing ones, as well as special funds for the merged districts. Measures to support the province's vulnerable, marginalized, and low-income populations are also part of the budget. Funding has been allocated for key infrastructure and welfare projects including the Peshawar-DI Khan Motorway, a new electricity transmission line, the establishment of an insurance company, and the Chashma Right Bank Canal. Safe City projects in Peshawar, Bannu, and DI Khan will receive financial support, and the education budget is being increased by 13 per cent. The monthly honorarium for artists will also be raised from Rs100,000 to Rs150,000. A significant portion of the development budget will focus on completing ongoing projects. Priority will be given to projects that are 80 per cent or more complete, followed by those with 60 per cent completion. The number of new development projects has been capped at 500, with Rs195 billion to be immediately released, and up to Rs250 billion allocated as needed. For the first time, a special committee will be formed to approve projects based on priority and necessity. The budget will continue to prioritize the education, health, and social welfare sectors. Additionally, the 13-year throw-forward period for the Annual Development Program (ADP) will be reduced to seven years. A safari park is also planned for Misri Banda in Nowshera as part of the new fiscal year's initiatives. The federal government is set to allocate a total of Rs1,342.78 billion to K-P from the divisible pool for the upcoming fiscal year 2025-26, which will raise the province's overall budget to approximately Rs2,000 billion. For the ongoing fiscal year 2024-25, the federal government was expected to provide Rs1,221.53 billion. However, according to revised estimates, the actual amount transferred to the province stood at Rs1,135.66 billion by the end of the fiscal year. In the upcoming fiscal year, the merged tribal districts will receive a Rs40 billion subsidy in the energy sector. This is a reduction from Rs65 billion allocated during the current fiscal year. Additionally, the federal government will provide Rs80 billion in special grants to these merged districts — an increase from Rs66 billion allocated in the current year. Under the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP), the merged tribal areas will be allocated Rs65.44 billion, compared to Rs70 billion in the current fiscal year.
Express Tribune
a day ago
- Express Tribune
Eid cattle sales now a middlemen's game
The sale of sacrificial animals has now become a fully commercial and highly profitable business, with the profits increasingly going to middlemen. Both the original owners of the animals — typically farmers and herders — and the end buyers incur losses. As a result, the demand for sacrificial animals continues to decline. According to contractors and livestock traders in Rawalpindi, this year saw a record 30% to 34% drop in the sale of sacrificial animals in the city. If a proper mechanism for the sale and purchase of sacrificial animals is not developed within the next two years, this decline could exceed 50%. A survey shows that immediately after Eidul Fitr, middlemen begin purchasing animals directly from villages through local agents. They pay in advance and transport the animals to their own farms, where they keep them for two months, set their own prices, and earn significant profits. When the moon of Eidul Azha is sighted, these animals are brought to the livestock markets. These middlemen buy animals at cheap rates directly from farmers and livestock owners, who barely make any profit. Meanwhile, consumers are forced to purchase the same animals at much higher prices. In addition, livestock markets have been fully commercialised. The market contractors, who often have no direct involvement with animals, win multimillion-rupee tenders from the municipal or district administration. They then rent out space in the market to livestock traders at rates ranging from Rs500,000 to Rs1 million per kanal for just 10 days. Other costs, such as electricity, water tankers, animal feed, tents for shade, and fans for ventilation, all add to the overall expense. An amount of Rs7,000 entry fee is also charged for a large animal and Rs4,000 for a smaller one. Loading and unloading charges are additional, and all of these expenses ultimately fall on the buyer. Previously, the original animal owners would sell their livestock directly in streets and local markets, with no market fees or middlemen involved. Now, however, what was once a religious tradition has been turned into a profit-driven industry by a growing mafia. Raja Khan, a contractor on High Court Road, explained that he rented one kanal of land for Rs800,000 for 10 days. Daily, he spent Rs3,500 on a water tanker, Rs10,000-15,000 on animal feed, and Rs2,000 on food for his three workers, who also bathed the animals to keep them cool in the summer heat. His electricity bill alone for 10 days was Rs100,000. Khan added even government and police officials didn't pay full price for animals. "Under such conditions, how can we sell animals at cheaper rates?" he said. "Every year, animal prices increase by Rs40,000 to Rs80,000. Within the next three to five years, sales may drop by 70%, and prices could rise by 50% to 70%." Contractor Irshad Abbasi says if market tender fees are abolished, animal prices could drop by 30% to 40% in a single day. He held the middlemen and administration responsible for the rising prices, adding: "When livestock markets are auctioned for Rs150 million to Rs180m, how can animals be sold cheaply?" This year, even on the eve of Eid, sales remained sluggish. By 9pm on Chand Raat, the market had essentially collapsed. Prices were reduced by up to 30%, but most genuine buyers had already left. As a result, many animals went unsold. Some were purchased by butchers at the last moment. Those who came after 9pm were able to buy good animals at 30% to 40% lower prices. Another major reason for the decline in sacrificial activity is the Rs 20,000 slaughtering fee for cows and bulls.
Business Recorder
2 days ago
- Business Recorder
Pakistan Economic Survey fails to calculate unemployment rate for current year
ISLAMABAD: The Economic Survey 2024-25 failed to calculate the unemployment rate for the current year and instead cited the rate prevalent four years ago in 2020-21: 6.3 percent from Labour Force Survey (LFS) 2020-21. The reason noted in the report is that the LFS for 2022-23 could not be undertaken due to the engagement of PBS with the 7th Population & Housing Census. However, work on LFS 2024-25 is under process. The LFS survey reveals that in 2020-21 youth (aged 15-24) had the highest unemployment rate of 11.1 percent, with 10.0 percent for males and 14.4 percent for females. The second highest unemployment rate was seen amongst 25-34 year olds, with a rate of 7.3 percent. PBS conducts first digital census: Around 7.8pc of total population unemployed Among this group, 5.4 percent of males and 13.3 percent of females were unemployed leading to the conclusion that unemployment is more prevalent among females, especially those between 15 and 24 years of age. The survey mentioned that during 2024, the BE&OE and the OEC registered 727,381 workers for overseas employment. According to BE&OE, more than 62 percent (452,562) of Pakistani workers moved to Saudi Arabia for employment, followed by Oman (11 percent), to earn a living. UAE employed 64,130 Pakistani workers (9 percent) while Qatar offered jobs to 40,818 individuals (6 percent). Bahrain and Malaysia hosted 25,198 workers (3 percent) and 5,790 workers (1 percent), respectively. In 2024, the highest number of workers who went abroad for employment was from Punjab (404,345), followed by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (187,103), Sindh (60,424), and Tribal areas (29,937). The skill composition of Pakistani emigrants in 2024 continues to be dominated by unskilled and semi-skilled labour, with relatively low representation from highly qualified and highly skilled professionals. According to the data, 50 percent of emigrants fall under the unskilled category (366,092), while 35 percent (255,706) are skilled workers. Although there has been a slight decline compared to 2023, unskilled labour remains in high demand globally, particularly in construction, domestic work, and agriculture sectors. The total population of Pakistan according to Seventh Population and Housing Census (2023) has reached 241.5 million; growing at 2.55 percent annually. The population comprises 124.32 million (51.5%) males and 117.15 million (48.5) females. A significant share of Pakistan's population is young, with 26% aged 15-29 years, while 53.8% fall within the working-age group of 15-59 years. This demographic dividend presents a unique opportunity for economic expansion and development. However, to fully capitalize on this advantage, strategic investments in education, skill development, and vocational training are essential. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
