The imports gold during first seven months of current fiscal year surged by 31.87 percent as against the same period of last year.

According to data revealed by Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS), the yellow metal weighing 2,282 kilogram worth of $123.382 million was imported during the period under review as compared to the import of 1,741 kg valuing $93.561 million during same period of last year (2011-12).On month on month basis the gold imports in January 2013 registered an increase of 63.32 percent as against January 2012 and it recorded a decrease of 66.46 percent when compared to the imports of December 2012.

Gold imports in January 2013 stood at $12.196 million against the imports of $7.459 million and $36.373 million in January 2012 and December 2012 respectively.The overall imports of metal group, registered an increase of 11.91 per cent during July-January (2012-13) against the same period of last year.The metal imports into the country during the period under review were recorded at $1.813 billion against imports of $1.62 billion during same period of last year.

Imports of iron and steel scrap registered a growth of 17.28 percent during July-January (2012-13) as compared to the imports during July-January (2011-12).Iron and steel scrap imports into the country were recorded at $394.134 million during the first seven months of current fiscal year against imports of $336.11 million during same period of last year.

Imports of iron and steel edged up by 8.04 percent by growing from $780.05 million to $842.791 million whereas the imports of aluminum wrought and worked decreased by 8.52 percent by going down from $73.692 million to $67.414 million.The imports of all other metal and articles were recorded at $385.78 million during the period under review against the imports of $337.115 million in last year posting a growth of 14.44 percent.