ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's imports from India rose by 3.8 percent to over US $ 293 million during the first quarter of the ongoing fiscal year (2011-12) against the same period of last year.
The total imports from India during July-September (2011-12) stood at US $ 293.344 million against the imports of US $ 282.495 million during July-September (2010-11), according to data of the Ministry of Commerce.
The highest increase of 675.7 percent increase was witnessed in the imports of vegetables and synthetic textile fiber, imports of which increased from US $ 1.138 million last year to US $ 8.828 million during the period under review.
This was followed by 626 percent increase in imports of fruits and fruit preparations, 446 percent increase in oil seeds and oleaginous fruits and 433 percent increase in sugar syrups, natural honey etc.
Similarly, the imports of chemical element and compounds increased from US $ 50.400 million to US $ 88.074 million, showing increase of 74 percent where as the imports of chemical material and products surged by 66.9 percent from US $ 21.451 percent to US $ 35.799 percent.
The imports of feeding stuff for animals increased by 37.4 percent from US $ 20.588 million to US $ 28.297 million whereas the imports of tea and mate from India also increased by 28.1 percent from US $ 8.388 million to US $ 10.746 million.
The other Indian products that witnessed positive growth in imports into Pakistan included meat and meat preparations (17.9 percent), oilseeds and oleaginous fruits (446.7 percent), crude rubber (93 percent), wool and animal hair (49.2 percent), all crude minerals, excluding salt (19.8 percent), pigments paints and varnishes (72.3 percent) and medical and pharmacedtical products (17.8 percent).
Similarly, rubber manufacturing (excluding tyre, tube apparel) witnessed increase of 18.3 percent where as the imports of tyres and tubes increased by 71.7 percent.
Other products that witnessed positive growth in imports included, cotton yarn (55.1 percent), yarn and thread of synthetic fibers (365 percent), construction material including cement (19.8 percent), medical or surgical instruments (32.3 percent)and printed matter (5.5 percent).
On the other hand, the Indian products that witnessed negative growth in imports into Pakistan included, live animals chiefly for food (100 percent), dairy products, eggs (100 percent), cereals and cereal preparations (79.9 percent), vegetables and vegetable preparations (14.6 percent, sugar, raw and refined (89.2 percent), hides, skins and furs skins (75 percent) and crude vegetable materials (3.5 percent).
Imports of essential oils, perfumes and cosmetics also decreased by 26 percent where as the imports of fertilized (manufactured) decreased by 93.8 percent, leather by 26 percent, cotton fabrics (woven) 83 percent, synthetic fabrics 99 percent, iron and steel manufacturing by 13.1 percent, manufactures of base metals by 85.8 percent and jewellery by 95 percent.
It is pertinent to mention here that the exports from the country to India witnessed 2.8 percent increase during the first quarter of the ongoing fiscal year (2011-12) as compared to the same period of last year.
The overall exports to India were recorded at $73.871 million during July-September (2011-12) as against the exports of $71.825 million during July-September (2010-11), according to data of Commerce Ministry.