The overall food imports into the country were recorded at $ 4.230 billion during July-April (2011-12) as compared to the imports of $4.305 billion during July-April (2010-11), Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) reported.

The major food items that contributed in the negative growth of the food imports included wheat (unmilled), imports of which decreased by 100 percent by falling from $5.161 million last year to zero imports during the current fiscal year.

The imports of dry fruits and nuts decreased by 2.78 percent, from $74.382 million last year to $72.312 million in the ongoing year.

Similarly, the imports of spices decreased by 5.16 percent, from $91.285 million to $86.573 million while imports of soyabean decreased by 30.79 percent by declining from $60.764 million to $42.056 million.

Imports of sugar into the country during the period under review decreased from $679.855 million last year to $14.366 million, showing negative growth of 97.89 percent, the PBS data revealed.

The imports of pulses (leguminous vegetables) decreased from $344.607 million last year to $320.269 million during the ongoing year, showing decrease of 7.06 percent.

On the other hand, the food products that witnessed increase in imports during the period under review included, milk, cream and milk food for infants, imports of which increased by 3.75 percent.

Similarly, the imports of tea increased by 4.76 percent, palm oil by 18.26 percent while the imports of other food items increased by 32.51 percent during the period under review.

Meanwhile, food imports into the country during the month of April decreased by 2.19 percent as compared to the same month of last year.

Howver, as compared to the food imports of March 2012, the imports during April 2012 increased by 4.75, PBS data revealed.