Pakistan’s trade with Central Asia faces snags

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s exports to five Central Asian Countries (CACs) fell year on year by 8.62 per cent in the first 10 months of 2025-26.

Exports to the region have turned negative following the closure of the land route into Afghanistan. However, Pakistan has started exporting goods to CACs via Iran, but trade remains limited in volume because of the long distance.

In absolute terms, the value of Pakistan’s exports to the five CACs — Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan — dipped by 8.62pc to $147.992 million in July-April 2025-26 from $161.943m during the same period last year.

Similarly, imports from the region dipped by 87.96pc to $20.882m in 10MFY26 from $173.383m during the same period last year. The majority of these imports came from Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan. Pakistan’s trade with CACs is between $400 and $500m annually via Afghanistan.

Uzbekistan has already implemented its transit trade agreement with Pakistan. Under the agreement, Uzbekistan has started importing goods under the transit agreement as well. The exports to almost all countries posted a negative growth during the months under review except Uzbekistan.

Exports fall 9pc and imports plunge 88pc due to Afghan route closure

Exports to Turkmenistan stood at $1.024m in 10MFY26, down from $1.435m in the corresponding months last year, a decline of 28.64pc. Imports from Turkmenistan also recorded a negative growth of 58.10pc to $5.327m during the period under review against $12.714 m over the corresponding months last year.

The export proceeds to Uzbekistan reached $64.139m in 10MFY26, up 38.27pc from $46.385m in the corresponding months last year. Imports from Uzbekistan declined by 84.83pc to $10.756m, down from $70.918m in the corresponding months last year.

Kazakhstan has the second-highest export value, at $70.373m in 10MFY26, down from $85.371m in the same period last year, a 17.57pc decline. The value of imports from Kazakhstan stood at $0.924m during the months under review, compared with $73.097m in the corresponding months of last year, a decline of $72.173m. Pakistan’s exports to Kyrgyzstan stood at $3.124m in 10MFY26 against $3.375m over the corresponding months last year, indicating a decline of 7.44pc. Imports from Kyrgyzstan stood at $0.626m, up from $0.493m.

Exports to Tajikistan stood at $9.332m in 10MFY26, down 63.22pc from $25.377m in the corresponding months last year. The imports from Tajikistan stood at $3.249m during the months under review, compared with $16.161m in the corresponding months of last year, a decline of 79.89pc.

Published in Dawn, June 11th, 2026