Islamabad: (RightNow) Pakistan’s imports have surged by 19%, leading to a 26% increase in the trade deficit.

According to the Federal Bureau of Statistics, there has been a significant rise in the import of food items, vehicles, and machinery. In July, food items worth $805.4 million, equivalent to 224 billion rupees, were imported.

The report indicates that the import of baby milk has increased by 25%, reaching $18.7 million. The government claims an additional 108 thousand metric tons of sugar is available.

Statistics show a 41% increase in machinery imports, including power generation, office, and telecom machinery. Transport equipment imports rose by 40%, reaching $420 million.

It is noteworthy that there has also been an increase in the import of raw cotton, agricultural equipment, and precious metals. The import bill for precious metals has exceeded $730 million.