The country''s import of pulses has witnessed a sharp decline of 22 percent in July 2010, which the importers attributed to soaring global prices, while flood continues to ravage standing crops. "Cost of pulses has posted more or less 50 percent increase globally and subsequently locally," said President Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), Abdul Majeed Haji Muhammad.
Import of pulses decreased 22 percent or $6.256 million during July 2010, according to official statistics, however, the president KCCI said the commodity import would increase in future, as importers had started anticipating an abnormal rise in its demand in the flood-stricken country. Pulses import declined to $22.081 million in July 2010 from $28. 337 million in July 2009 with 22 percent or $6.256 million slump.
In terms of volume, pulses import has narrowed down 39 percent to 31, 635 tons in July 2010 as compared to the commodity''s import of 51,992 tons in corresponding period of the last fiscal year. Pulses import had also gone down 12. 45 percent in July 2010 as compared with its imports in June 2010 as overall pulses import stood at $25.222 million. Expressing satisfaction, Haji Muhammad said the current food availability situation was better, as pulses supply within the country was going on smoothly.