ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s trade deficit surged by 32.92 per cent in the first quarter (July–September) of fiscal year 2025-26, reaching $9.368 billion, as imports rose while exports declined, according to official data released on Thursday.
The Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) said that in September alone, the trade deficit widened by 45.83 per cent year-on-year. On a monthly basis, the deficit increased by 16.33 per cent, amounting to $3.341 billion.
During the July–September period, imports grew 13.49 per cent to $16.971 billion, while exports fell 3.83 per cent to $7.603 billion.
In September 2025, imports stood at $5.845 billion, while exports dropped 11.71 per cent year-on-year to $2.504 billion, PBS data showed.
According to documents available with HUM News English, the country’s total trade deficit from 2020 to the first two quarters of fiscal year 2024–25 stood at $154.32 billion, equivalent to Rs43,398 billion.
The documents reveal that, apart from a few quarters showing minor dips, the trade deficit consistently trended upward throughout the period.
In a marginal improvement, the trade gap narrowed in FY24 compared to the previous fiscal year, decreasing from $27.47 billion in FY23 to $24.11 billion in FY24, as exports slightly outpaced imports.
Earlier, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb laid out a broad economic roadmap centered on tax reforms, private sector empowerment, and strategic investment alignment.
He shared these ideas during his keynote address at the Pakistan Business Summit being held in Peshawar on Thursday.
Highlighting the importance of domestic revenue generation, Aurangzeb said that “if the people pay taxes, there will be development.” He announced a major shift in fiscal policy, stating that next year’s national budget will be prepared by the newly established Tax Policy Office, while the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) will focus exclusively on tax collection.
In a clear push for economic self-reliance, Finance Minister Aurangzeb also said that no foreign aid will be sought for flood recovery efforts, adding, “Efforts are being made to first fix the matters in the flood-affected areas on our own.” He commended the role of national institutions, noting that “every institution has taken a full part in the rehabilitation of flood victims.”