Despite claiming agricultural-based country, imports of food-related products like wheat, sugar and cotton in Pakistan has been increased 44.75 percent by average in the first four-month of the fiscal year 2021-22.

According to the 24News HD TV channel sources, the PTI government was wasting valuable foreign exchange like a spendthrift child on imports of food-related products and total imports of such items had been reached $1,154 million.

The sources said wheat imports in four months were increased by 9 per cent with the total amount of $235 million while sugar imports increased by 48 per cent with a total amount of $150 million.

Raw cotton imports in four months of fiscal year up by 69 per cent with a total amount of $492 million while pluses imports have been increased by 53 per cent with the total amount of $277 million.

On the other hand, the sources said that imports of non-essential items like mobile phones, motor cars, aircraft and boats were enhancing pressure on the foreign exchange and burden on the national economy.

The sources said that the import of mobile phones in four months of the fiscal year 2021-22 had increased by 16 per cent with a total amount of $644 million.

Motor cars imports rose 112 per cent in the country to $123 million and buses, trucks and other heavy vehicle imports rose 172 per cent to $81 million while the imports of aircraft, ships and boats rose 121 to $306 million.