20000117

Food imports decline

ISLAMABAD: Despite increase in overall imports, the food imports have declined by 35.32 percent in first half of the current fiscal, showing a conscious effort by the government to achieve self-sufficiency in food, official sources said on Saturday.

The food imports during July-December,1999 was to the tune of $524 million as against that of $810 million during the same period last year.

According to the sources, in terms of percentage, the major decline has been witnessed in the import of sugar, whose import dropped to $0.62 million in first six months from $2.43 million during the same period last year.

However, in terms of amount the major decline has been recorded in the import of soyabean oil and palm oil.

The import of soyabean oil and palm oil declined by 56.89 percent and 53.02 percent respectively in the comparable periods.

In dollar terms, the import of soyabean oil reduced to $49.61 million from $115 million and that of palm oil to $158 million from $337 million in the first six months.

The import of spices and tea has also declined considerably by 44.89 percent and 22.20 percent respectively.

Besides, the import of milk and cream, including milk food for infants, wheat unmilled and pulses has also declined.

The only item in the food group, which has shown increasing trend, is that of dry fruits. Its import in first six months increased to $21.70 million from $13.84 million in first half of the current fiscal.

The increase in overall import bill is largely due to increase in import bill of the petroleum group.

The import of petroluem group petroleum products and petroleum crude increased by over 80 percent to $1.2 billion from that of $664 million in first six months.

Import of petroleum products increased to $842 million from $453 million in the corresponding period. Similarly, the import of petroleum crude increased from $211.69 million to $358 million during July-December, 1999.

According to the official sources, the increase in petroleum group bill is largely due to the rising prices of petroleum products in the international market.

The quantity of petroleum products, for instance, had increased by 800 tonnes, but the price difference is as much as $369 million, the sources said.

Similarly, the quantity of petroluem crude imported in the country had in fact declined but, as against it, there had been an increase of $147 million in its import bill, the sources added. APP