Islamabad, Aug. 22 -- Pakistan's import bill witnessed a broad-based increase in July, driven by higher purchases of food products, machinery, vehicles, transport equipment, textile inputs, agricultural equipment, chemicals and metals, according to a report by Samaa TV.

Food imports emerged as a major contributor, with Pakistan importing food products worth USD 805.4 million in July, equivalent to more than Rs 224 billion, Samaa TV reported. The imports included baby milk and cream, spices, soybeans, palm oil, sugar and pulses.

Imports of baby milk and cream alone rose 25 per cent to USD 18.7 million. Pakistan also imported 112 metric tonnes of sugar during July, despite government claims that around 108,000 metric tonnes of sugar are c...