Trade Deficit Soars to $2.87B in August

Islamabad, September 2, 2025, 10:41 PM PKT — Pakistan’s trade deficit has skyrocketed by over 30%, hitting $2.87 billion in August 2025, up from $2.20 billion in August 2024, as Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) data unveiled on Tuesday, driven by soaring imports and a sharp export decline. Exports plummeted 12.5% to $2.42 billion from $2.76 billion last year, while imports surged 6% to $5.29 billion from $4.96 billion, though the month-on-month deficit narrowed 9% from $3.14 billion in July 2025. For the first two months of FY2025-26 (2MFY26), the deficit jumped 29% to $6.01 billion from $4.66 billion, with exports edging up 0.6% to $5.1 billion from $5.06 billion, and imports leaping 14% to $11.12 billion from $9.73 billion.

This widening gap signals economic strain, despite recent stability claims. Web context on trade trends shows past volatility, while posts found on X reflect concern mixed with frustration—some note import reliance, others demand export support. Critically, the narrative of “economic recovery” may mask structural weaknesses—web data hints at production gaps, and X sentiment suggests distrust in sustained improvement, pointing to potential risks.