ISLAMABAD: Food exports increased year-on-year by 37.12 per cent during the first five months of the current fiscal year, reported the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics on Tuesday.

       Food exports were recorded at $2.64 billion during July-November 2023-24 as compared to $1.92bn in the same period last year.

       The rice exports surged by 49.37pc to $1.11bn from $749.4m last year.

       Likewise, the exports of fruits rose year-on-year 15.27pc to $128.13m, leguminous vegetables 79.01pc to $0.084m and spices 19.21pc to $45.179m.

       On a year-on-year basis, the exports of oil seeds, nuts and kernels increased by 263.82pc to $350.37m, sugar by 100pc from zero to $21.07m, meat and meat preparations by 21.81pc to $195.7m in 5MFY24.

       However, exports of fish and fish preparations dipped year-on-year 12.87pc to $161.9m, vegetables 27.15pc to $88.72m and tobacco 31.23pc to $16.750m during July-November.

       Published in Dawn, December 27th, 2023