Food exports surge 35pc in February

The export of raw food products recorded a growth of 35.38 per cent in February to $702.46 million, up from $518.87m over the corresponding month last year, forcing the local consumers to pay higher prices.
With this growth, raw food exports increased for the seventh consecutive month during the current fiscal year despite the highest food inflation in the country’s history, according to data compiled by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics.
These unchecked exports drove food inflation to a stunning 20.2pc in February as prices rose, limiting cash-starved people’s access to key goods such as wheat flour, rice, onions, sugar, meat and vegetables.
With the beginning of Ramazan, prices of vegetables such as onions, potatoes and tomatoes and those of fruits like bananas, apples and guava have reached new highs.
Read more: https://www.dawn.com/news/1822001/food-exports-surge-35pc-in-february