Reliable energy supply sought for export industries

Mian Zahid Hussain, the President of the Pakistan Businessmen and Intellectuals Forum, called on the government to provide reliable and affordable energy to export industries. He also emphasized the need to streamline port procedures, customs clearance, and trade documentation to lower costs and production time. Hussain highlighted that frequent changes in policies and tariffs create uncertainty for investors and exporters.

He urged the government to have clear, consistent, and predictable decisions on taxation, tariffs, and energy. The 10.84 percent increase in exports in the first quarter of FY2026-27 was positive, but imports increased by 13.21 percent, widening the trade deficit by 15.13 percent to USD 10.79 billion. Hussain urged the government to examine the causes of the import surge, its impact on domestic production, and how it could affect the full-year deficit.

The widening trade deficit could reach approximately USD 43.16 billion if the quarterly deficit remains at USD 10.79 billion for the remaining three quarters. While remittances provide a cushion to the external account, they cannot offset the merchandise trade deficit. Hussain also stressed the need for Pakistan to diversify its exports and target new markets to sustain growth.