Pakistani trade deficit rises to 15102 b

KARACHI: Pakistan’s trade deficit rose by 4.22 percent to $15.102 billion for the July to February 2016 period, compared with a deficit of $14.490 billion for the same period last year, according to the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics.Exports declined to $13.874 billion in the eight month period from $15.995 billion the previous year.Imports dropped to $28.976 billion from $30.485 billion.The Pakistan financial year begins in July.On a monthly basis, the trade deficit decreased to $1.513 billion in February from $1.712 billion the previous month.Exports totalled $1.791 billion in February and imports were worth $3.304 billion.