Pakistan’s trade deficit has widened significantly in the first five months of the current fiscal year 2025-26, driven by rising imports and declining exports, according to the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS).
From July to November 2025, the trade deficit increased by 37.17 percent, reaching $15.47 billion. On a year-on-year basis, November alone saw the trade deficit rise 32.79 percent, although it fell 11.86 percent month-on-month to $2.85 billion.
During the July-November period, imports grew 13.26 percent to $28.31 billion, with November imports recorded at $5.25 billion. In contrast, exports fell 6.39 percent to $12.84 billion over the same period. November exports declined 15.35 percent year-on-year and 15.80 percent month-on-month, amounting to $2.39 billion.
The data highlights persistent challenges in Pakistan’s external trade, with rising import bills and falling exports putting pressure on the country’s balance of payments.
