Exports to 5 Central Asian states fall 4.1pc in FY26
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s exports to five Central Asian Republics (CARs) shrank 4.10 per cent year-on-year in FY26. The country’s exports to the region have yet to reach their full potential, apparently due to the closure of border trade stations with Afghanistan and land trade routes. Pakistan’s bilateral trade with these five Central Asian states — Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan…
Pakistan's exports to five Central Asian Republics (CARs) declined by 4.1% year-on-year in FY26. This export reduction has not yet reached its full potential, potentially due to the closure of border trade stations with Afghanistan and land trade routes. Pakistan's bilateral trade with Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan decreased by 50.62%, falling from $443.712 million in FY25 to $219.125 million in FY26.
The most significant drop came from imports, which plunged 88.35% to $28.547 million in FY26, down from $244.990 million in FY25. Exports were slightly more stable, falling by 4.1% to $190.578 million, from $198.722 million. Kazakhstan remained the largest trading partner among the CARs, with bilateral trade valued at $104.313 million, though this represented a 54.22% decline compared to FY25.
Uzbekistan followed at $87.732 million. Tajikistan experienced the steepest overall contraction at 69.56%, while Turkmenistan saw a 61.36% decrease. Kyrgyzstan was the sole CAR with an increase in bilateral trade, growing by 6.66%. Pakistan's annual trade with CARs is estimated to be between $400 and $500 million through Afghanistan.
Uzbekistan has already implemented its transit trade agreement with Pakistan, initiating imports under the agreement. Exports to nearly all countries recorded negative growth in FY26, as did imports from all countries compared to the previous year. Exports to Turkmenistan fell 29.3% to $1.183 million, while imports dropped by 64.59% to $5.868 million.
Exports to Uzbekistan decreased 17.95% to $75.613 million, and imports plunged 84.68% to $12.11 million. Kazakhstan saw the highest export value at $97.888 million, down from $98.244 million in FY25. Imports to Kazakhstan were $6.425 million, compared to $129.628 million. Pakistan's exports to Kyrgyzstan were $4.027 million, down from $3.995 million in FY25.
Imports remained at $0.843 million. Exports to Tajikistan decreased 61.34% to $11.867 million, and imports plunged 82.76% to $3.292 million.
Written by urgent.news from Dawn Business's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
