ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s trade gap with nine neighbouring countries widened by 39.33 per cent to $6.221 billion in the first five months 2025-26 compared to $4.465bn in the same period last year.

The soaring deficit is mainly the outcome of a decline in Pakistan’s overall exports to regional countries, mainly led by a drop in exports to China, followed by Afghanistan. Pakistan has suspended all kinds of trade, including exports to Afghanistan, since Oct 10.

A marginal increase was also recorded in exports to India, but in value its volume is very negligible. The shipments to Bangladesh and Sri Lanka registered negative growth during the period under review, according to the latest data compiled by the State Bank of Pakistan.

In FY25,........

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