ISLAMABAD, June 20: Exports from Pakistan during May 2008 amounted to Rs131,572 million as against Rs114,943 million in April 2008 showing an increase of 14.47 per cent.

According to provisional figures released by Federal Board of Statistics here on Friday, the exports rose by 36.84 per cent as compared Rs96,152 million during the same month of the last year.

Exports from July-May 2007-2008 totalled Rs1,071,127 million as against Rs.935,697 million during the corresponding period of last year, showing an increase of 14.47 per cent.

Main commodities of exports during May 2008 were readymade garments (Rs10,883 million), cotton cloth (Rs10,527 million), rice and others (Rs10,451 million), bedwear (Rs10,243 million), knitwear (Rs10,083 million), rice basmati (Rs9,826 million), cotton yarn (Rs.7,093 million), Art, silk & synthetic textile (Rs.4,292 million), towels (Rs3,986 million), and made-up articles (excluding towels and bedwear) (Rs3,455 million).

On the other hand, imports during May amounted to Rs262,555 million as against Rs260,575 million in April showing an increase of 0.76 per cent.

The imports were up by 57.35 per cent when compared to Rs.166,860 million imports during the same period of last financial year. Imports during July-May 2007-2008 totalled Rs2,241,554 million as against Rs.1,682,268 million during the corresponding period of last year showing an increase of 33.25 per cent.

Main commodities of imports during May 2008 were petroleum products (Rs56,475 million), petroleum crude (Rs39,775 million), palm oil (Rs11,346 million), power generating machinery (Rs9,596 million), iron & steel (Rs9,422 million), other apparatus -- telecom (Rs7,653 million), plastic materials (Rs7,574 million), raw cotton (Rs5,569 million), medicinal products (Rs4,699 million) and electrical machinery and apparatus (Rs.4,435 million).---APP