ISLAMABAD: The tobacco exports from the country witnessed sharp increase of 34.93 percent during the Fiscal Year 2017 as compared to the corresponding period of last year.

According to figures of Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS), the tobacco exports earned $14.807 million for the country in July-June (2016-17) as compared to the earnings of $10.974 million during July-June (2015-16).

In terms of quantity, the country exports 3,976 metric ton of tobacco during the period under review as compared to the exports of 3,194 metric ton, showing positive growth of 24.48 percent.

The overall food exports from the country during the fiscal year (2016-17) decreased by 6.94 percent when compared to the last year.   The overall food exports from the country were recorded at $3,712 million in July-June (2016-17) as compared to the exports of $3,989 million in July-June (2015-16).

However, on year-on-year basis, the tobacco exports declined by 27.88 percent in June 2017 as compared to the same month of last year.

The tobacco exports in June 2017 stood at $0.401 million as compared to the exports of $0.556 million.

On month-on-month basis, the tobacco exports witnessed sharp decline of 66.13 percent in June 2017 when compared to the exports of $1.184 million in May 2017.