Pak July-Sept fiscal deficit widens to Rs223 bln

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’’s fiscal deficit widened to PKR223 billion in the three months to September 30 from Rs137.87 billion a year earlier, official data showed Thursday. The fiscal gap translates to 1.5% of the estimated gross domestic product in the financial year through June 2010, up from 1.0% in the same period last year, according to data posted on the Web site of the Ministry of Finance. Total revenue rose 11% to Rs427.2 billion, while total expenditure increased 24.5% to Rs650.9 billion.