Islamabad: Pakistan’s Minister for Commerce on Thursday chaired a high-level meeting to review the country’s trade performance during the first two months of the financial year 2025–26. Senior officials and representatives from relevant departments attended the meeting, which focused on sustaining export momentum and shaping strategies for long-term trade growth.
The meeting noted that Pakistan’s exports remained stable at USD 5.11 billion during July–August 2025–26, despite difficult global conditions. The textile and apparel sector once again emerged as the backbone of the economy, posting a 10 percent increase and reaffirming its central role in sustaining Pakistan’s exports.
Encouragingly, the meeting observed that Pakistan’s exports to Africa grew by 9 percent and to South Asia by 7 percent, while stable performance was maintained in North America and the European Union. These gains, officials said, underscore the Ministry’s ongoing efforts to expand into new markets while consolidating traditional ones.
On the import side, the Commerce Ministry highlighted that demand was primarily driven by energy, raw materials, and food items, an indication of growing domestic economic activity. The Minister noted that this trend opens up avenues for import substitution and investment in local manufacturing, in line with the Government’s flagship “Make in Pakistan” initiative.
The Minister for Commerce issued key directions to accelerate trade development, emphasizing the need for diversification of export products and markets, particularly with a focus on high-value and non-traditional sectors. He stressed the importance of developing effective import substitution strategies to reduce Pakistan’s reliance on food and energy imports. The Minister also highlighted the goal of strengthening export competitiveness through deeper integration into global value chains. In addition, he directed that measures for value addition in textiles, agriculture, and manufacturing be expedited to enhance productivity and ensure sustainable growth.
Commending exporters for their resilience, the Minister reiterated the Government’s commitment to supporting the business community, securing new market access, and ensuring sustainable trade growth. The meeting concluded with the reaffirmation that the Ministry of Commerce remains fully dedicated to building a resilient, diversified, and competitive trade sector, aligned with Pakistan’s economic growth and employment objectives.
