Caretaker Federal Minister of Commerce Dr. Gohar Ejaz announced that exports in December 2023 rose by 22.2% to USD 2.812 billion from USD 2.301 billion in December 2022. He also noted that imports decreased by 12.25% in December 2023 to USD 4.514 billion compared to USD 5.144 billion in December 2022. In the broader picture, exports in Jul-Dec 2023 increased by 5.2% to USD 14.981 billion, while imports saw a significant 16.28% reduction, falling from USD 31.209 billion to USD 26.129 billion. This resulted in a substantial narrowing of the trade deficit, with a 40% decrease in December 2023 alone. Dr. Ejaz expressed optimism about the record growth and the government’s goal to achieve export-led growth of USD 8 billion per month. He emphasized the Ministry of Commerce’s commitment to strengthening Pakistan’s export potential.