ISLAMABAD: The export of goods from Pakistan to Afghanistan increased by 33.61  percent in January 2019 as compared to the same month, a year ago as the exports rose to US$ 141.414 million in January this year from $105.836 million in January 2018.

On month-on-month basis, the exports to the country also increased by 90 percent during the period under review as compared to exports worth of $74.193 million recorded during December 2018, according to latest data released by State Bank of Pakistan (SBP).

On average the exports to Afghanistan, however witnessed a decline of 19.96 percent during July-January 2018-19 as compared to same period of last year as the exports fell to $676.335 million from $845.068 million during July-January 2017-18.

Similarly the imports of goods from Afghanistan during first seven months of current fiscal year increased by 12.5 percent as it rose to $98.711 million in July-January (2018-19) from $87.942 million worth of imports recorded during same period of the year 2017-18.

On yearly basis, the imports from the country declined by 20.4 percent from $17.087 million in January 2018 to $13.595 million in same month of current year while on monthly basis, the imports increased by 32.8 percent as during December 2018, the imports stood at $10.231 million.

The Pakistan's trade surplus with Afghanistan during January stood at $124.327 million while during first seven months (Jul-Jan) of current fiscal year the trade balance remained $577.624 million.

As a result of growing exports and declining imports, the country's trade surplus with Afghanistan jumped 44 percent in January 2019 as the value of surplus rose to US$127.819 million in the month as compared to the surplus worth of $88.749 million in same month of previous year.

The trade surplus during first seven months (July-January) of current fiscal year however decreased by 23.7 percent as the trade surplus fell to $577.624 million in Jul-Jan (2018-19) from $757.326 million in same period of last year.