Pakistani exports to 5 Central Asian countries have declined by 17% during the first half of the fiscal year 2024-25.
The country’s exports to the region have not yet reached their full potential, while imports to Pakistan from Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan have increased significantly despite regular high-profile visits to balance the trade deficit.
During July-December 2024, the value of Pakistan’s exports to the Central Asian countries of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan declined by 17.02% to $98.4 million, compared to $109.479 million in the same period last year.
During the sixth month of fiscal year 2025, imports from the region increased by $8.91 million to $136.64 million, compared to $127.73 million in the same period last year. Most of these imports came from Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan.
Pakistan’s trade with Central Asian countries via Afghanistan is between $400 million and $500 million annually. Uzbekistan has already implemented a transit trade agreement with Pakistan. Under the agreement, Uzbekistan has also started importing goods under the transit agreement.
Last year, Tajikistan imported 3 trucks loaded with potatoes from Pakistan under the transit agreement.
Pakistan’s exports to Turkmenistan in the first six months of fiscal year 2025 were $950,000, compared to $590,000 in the same month of the previous year, representing an increase of 61%. Imports from Turkmenistan increased by 98% to $549,000, compared to $277,000 in the same period of the previous year.
Exports to Uzbekistan in the first six months of fiscal year 2025 reached $280,000, compared to $348,000, representing a decrease of 19.56%. Imports from Uzbekistan increased by $438,000 to $479,000, compared to $418,000 in the same period of the previous year.
Kazakhstan has the highest export value, with exports worth $39.43 million in the first six months of fiscal year 2025, a decrease of 30.32% compared to $56.59 million in the same period last year.
Imports from Kazakhstan were worth $72.76 million, compared to $0.385 million in the same month last year.
Pakistan’s exports to Kyrgyzstan in the first six months of fiscal year 2025 were $2.18 million, compared to $4.81 million in the same period last year, a decrease of 54.67%. Imports from Kyrgyzstan were $300,000, compared to $140,000.
Exports to Tajikistan in the first six months of fiscal year 2025 were $22.4 million, compared to $12.62 million in the same period last year, representing an increase of 60%.
Imports from Tajikistan were $11 million, compared to $1.43 million in the same period last year, representing an increase of $8.67 million.
