ISLAMABAD: According to the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS), wheat imports in Pakistan dropped to zero during the first four months of the current fiscal year, a stark contrast to the $166.633 million spent on importing over 556,903 metric tons of wheat during the same period last year.
Pakistan Wheat Imports saw a complete halt during the first four months of FY 2024, while other agricultural import trends presented mixed outcomes. Pulse imports dropped by 7.27%, totaling 430,177 metric tons valued at $287.837 million, compared to 516,666 metric tons worth $321.140 million in the same period last year.
Conversely, fertilizer imports surged by 121.36%. Between July and October 2024, Pakistan imported 612,622 metric tons worth $374.876 million, up from 334,675 metric tons valued at $169.262 million in the same period of 2023.
Medicinal product imports also increased by 18.59%, rising to $406.452 million for 12,441 metric tons, compared to $342.730 million for 25,312 metric tons in the previous year.
Insecticide imports fell sharply by 31.49%, declining from 13,226 metric tons valued at $65.441 million in 2023 to 8,717 metric tons worth $44.831 million this year.
Additionally, agricultural machinery imports saw a notable increase of 70.92%, with imports rising to $39.616 million from $23.178 million in the corresponding period last year.
This diverse import performance highlights shifting priorities in Pakistan’s agricultural and industrial sectors during the ongoing fiscal year.