GENEVA, July 22, 2008 (AFP) - Swiss arms exports rose 63 percent in the first half of the year compared with the equivalent figure last year, with Pakistan the leading destination, customs authorities said on Tuesday.

Arms exports were valued at 348 million Swiss francs (215 million euros, 341 million dollars), of which Pakistan accounted for 67 million francs, according to the federal customs office.

Pakistan's arms purchases from Switzerland came to just 900,000 francs in the first six months of 2007.

Denmark accounted for 43 million francs' worth of Swiss arms exports, Germany and Belgium 35 million each and Britain 25 million.