Authorities in the Central Statistics Organization (CSO) on Sunday said Afghanistan’s annual imports cost $7 billion USD; therefore, government should support domestic products in order to fix the trade deficit.

Information released by the CSO reveals that Afghanistan annually spends $1 billion USD on ironware imports, $1.5 billion USD on commodities and $2 billion USD on fuel and gas imports.

“Now it is the time that government should pay attention to support domestic products. This will help the government to overcome the unemployment problem and enhance Afghanistan’s economy,” the deputy head of the CSO, Hasibullah Mowahid, said.

Meanwhile, a number of economic affairs analysts said the trade deficit has surged this year to almost 90 percent. They called on government to overcome the problem by supporting domestic products.

 “We hope that the government leaders have learned a lesson from the border closure by Pakistan and roll up their sleeves to support the domestic products,” said Azrakhsh Hafizi, an analyst in economic affairs.

The Ministry of Commerce and Industries spokesman Musafir Qoqandi meanwhile said they have prepared plans to increase the exports and support domestic products.

“You know that trade deficit has decreased in past two years as domestic products have improved and exports have increased. We have plans on hand and this process will continue,” said Qoqandi said.