KARACHI: Pakistan’s trade deficit for the first four months of the fiscal year 2012-2013 narrowed by 7 per cent to $6.44 billion from the same period last year, according to the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics.

Exports rose 5 per cent to $8.203 billion during the July-Oct period compared to the same period last year, the bureau said in a statement issued late on Wednesday. Imports eased to $14.643 billion from $14.723 billion a year ago.

On a monthly basis, the trade deficit grew to $1.774 billion in October from $1.287 billion the previous month.

Exports totaled $2.016 billion in October, and imports were $3.790 billion.