According to Pakistan Bureau of Statistics data, Pakistan’s food import bill has significantly declined by 18 per cent to $1.06 billion in the first two months of the current financial year.
Moreover, this reduction highlights a shift towards decreasing reliance on imported food items.
Key declines in food imports
The most substantial decrease was in milk imports, which fell by 23per cent, reducing the total expenditure to $19 million. Tea imports also saw a significant decline, with volumes dropping from 46,451 tonnes to 38,847 tonnes, and the import bill shrinking from $110 million to $97.9 million.
In addition, Soybean imports experienced the largest percentage decrease, plummeting by 52per cent to $22.2 million. Palm oil imports, a major component of Pakistan’s food import bill, dropped by 10 per cent, reducing costs to $495.9 million.
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Additionally, pulses imports decreased by 21 per cent to $133 million, and the import bill for other food grains fell by 33 per cent, totaling $245.3 million.
This downward trend reflects Pakistan’s broader efforts to manage its food import expenditures amid ongoing economic challenges.
