Pakistan's exports rise sharply in September

Pakistan's goods exports reached about $2.94 billion in September, according to the country's Bureau of Statistics. This is nearly 18 percent higher than in the same month last year. Exports, which stood at about $2.53 billion in August, rose by about 16 percent in a single month.

Imports in the same month, however, rose by about 11 percent to nearly $6.5 billion. Imports had been about $5.85 billion in September last year. This has pushed the monthly trade deficit to about $3.56 billion, nearly 6 percent higher than about $3.35 billion in the same month of the previous year.

Improvement in exports of textiles and ready-made garments, as well as food items including rice, appears to have supported the growth. Textile exports had risen by about 5.5 percent in the first two months of fiscal year 2026/27 alone.

In the first three months of the current fiscal year, the trade deficit has reached about $10.79 billion.

The data released by the bureau are preliminary.