Pakistan’s Food Imports Surge 31% to $3.075B in Q1 FY26, Sugar Up 15,700%

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s food import bill exploded to $3.075 billion in Jul–Oct FY26, a 31.38% surge from $2.340 billion last year, exposing critical domestic supply collapse, official data revealed. Sugar imports skyrocketed 15,700% to 231,390 tonnes worth $131.311 million (vs $1.454M last year) as the government scrambled to tame Rs190–230/kg retail prices. Palm oil stayed king at $1.325 billion (+29.37%), soyabean oil +12.99% to $66.108 million, while pulses fell 14.22% and tea dipped 1.29%. Other food items rocketed 53.40% to $904.584 million. The numbers scream Pakistan’s deepening addiction to imported food to plug production gaps and calm prices, with trade deals and emergency policies driving the import frenzy.