Salman Khan
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s trade deficit posted double-digit rise as it widened by 21.6 per cent to $23.83 billion in the 10 months of 2020-21 from $19.59bn over the corresponding period last year, Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) data showed on Wednesday.
The trade gap has been widening since December 2020. The surge in trade deficit is mainly led by exponential growth in imports with comparative slow growth in exports proceeds from the country.
In FY20, the country’s trade deficit had narrowed to $23.099bn from $31.820bn. However, this target was now crossed in 10 months of FY21, indicating a serious pressure on external side due to rising imports.
The government has decided in principle to import wheat for building strategic reserves and ensure steady supply of staple food during the current year. AFP/File
ISLAMABAD: The government has decided in principle to import wheat for building strategic reserves and ensure steady supply of staple food during the current year.
A summary will be presented in the next meeting of Economic Coordination Committee of the Cabinet for approval. This was stated by Secretary Ministry of Food Security and Research Ghufran Memon in a meeting of the National Price Monitoring Committee (NPMC).
The NPMC meeting was chaired by Finance Minister Shaukat Tarin to review prices of essential food items.
Pakistan’s exports to its nine regional countries plunged over 5.7 per cent in the nine months of the current fiscal year due to the impact of Covid-19. Reuters/File
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s exports to its nine regional countries plunged over 5.7 per cent in the nine months of the current fiscal year due to the impact of Covid-19, data of the State Bank of Pakistan showed on Monday.
The country’s exports to these countries Afghanistan, China, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, India, Iran, Nepal, Bhutan and the Maldives account for a small amount of $2.788 billion, which is just 14.91pc of Pakistan’s total global exports of $18.688bn in 9MFY21.
• 12 million people fall in age bracket of 40-50
• Walk-in facility allowed for people over 50
• 70 die, 4,825 contract virus in single day
• Ulema to extend assistance in SOPs’ enforcement
ISLAMABAD: In a major development, the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) on Monday decided to open registration of around 12 million people in the age group of 40 to 50 years and allowed walk-in vaccination facility for citizens over 50.
Minister for Planning and Development Asad Umar said people who were 40 years and above could get themselves registered for vaccination from Tuesday (today).
“In today’s NCOC meeting, it was decided to open up registration of 40 plus age citizens starting tomorrow [Tuesday]. Also decision taken to allow walk in vaccination of all registered citizens of 50 plus age group. If you are 40 years or older please register and encourage others to register,” the minister tweeted.
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