FX.co ★ Pakistan Trade Deficit Widens Sharply in June

Pakistan’s trade deficit widened to PKR 1,263.2 billion in June 2026, up from PKR 815.4 billion in the same month a year earlier and sharply higher than PKR 781.2 billion in May 2026. Imports rose 24.4% year-on-year to PKR 1,886.3 billion, largely driven by a 57.6% surge in crude petroleum imports to PKR 195.5 billion, underscoring the country’s persistent dependence on imported energy. In contrast, exports fell 11.1% to PKR 623.1 billion, dragged down by a 37.9% drop in rice shipments and weaker performance in other key categories, including knitwear, bedwear, and cotton cloth. Over the July 2025–June 2026 fiscal year, imports grew 8.5% while exports contracted 5.6%, resulting in a 22.3% expansion of the trade deficit to PKR 11,098.3 billion.