Pakistan Trade Deficit Rises 15 Percent in First Quarter

The Pakistan Bureau of Statistics reported that Pakistan's trade deficit increased by 15.1 percent during the first quarter of the 2026-27 financial year. From July to September, the deficit reached $10.79 billion, a rise of approximately $1.41 billion compared to the $9.37 billion recorded during the same period last year.

The widening gap resulted from imports growing at a faster rate than exports. For the first three months of the fiscal year, imports rose 13.2 percent to $19.22 billion, while exports grew 10.8 percent to $8.42 billion.

Data for September showed a trade deficit of $3.56 billion, representing a 6.2 percent increase over September 2025. September exports rose 17.6 percent year-on-year to $2.94 billion and increased 16.1 percent from August. During the same month, imports rose 11.1 percent year-on-year and 11.5 percent month-on-month to reach $6.49 billion.