Machinery imports up by 41.43 percent

Machinery imports in 2003-04 so far have increased to Rs 243.143 billion against Rs 171.901 billion in last year, registering a 41.43 percent growth, sources told Business Recorder here on Wednesday. Among overall machinery imports, aircraft, ships and boats showed the highest upward trend. This year's purchase of aircraft, ships and boats amounted Rs 45.62 billion as compared to Rs 7.799 billion of last year.
Sources said that such imports did not fall in the category of machinery, but had been categorised as 'machinery' in the official records.
They said that import of power generators increased to Rs 16.004 billion, against Rs 15.714 billion of last year. The imports of agriculture machinery and instruments amounted to only Rs 0.296 billion, against last year's Rs 0.215 billion.
The import of construction and mining machinery showed slight decrease at Rs 5.844 billion, against last year's Rs 5.917 billion. Textile machinery imports were worth Rs 34.427 billion, against Rs 31.081 billion of last year, registering slight growth. Specialists had expected larger increase in the textile sector because of the looming competition under WTO regime.
Sources said that in the textile sector the ginning machines and equipment imports this year reached up to Rs 27.697 billion as compared to Rs 23.037 billion of last year. They added that it was good for textile sector growth.
The import of metal works machinery also showed increase from last year's Rs 1.213 billion to Rs 1.983 billion this year.
Office machines import, including data processing equipment, registered a little decrease as it stood at Rs 12.059 billion against last year's Rs12.361 billion.
Sources said that due to investment-friendly environment, the import of telecom and sound equipment increased from Rs 17.110 to Rs 27.643 billion. They said that foreign companies are interested to invest in this sector; so in the next few years this import would increase more.
The electrical machinery and apparatus imports were at Rs 14.862 billion as against last year's Rs 12.660 billion.
In the communication sector, the import of machinery showed a positive trend this year as its bill stood at Rs 37.576 billion, against last year's Rs 29.286 billion. These included railway passenger coaches and locomotives.