ISLAMABAD: Pakis­tan’s merchandise exports posted a recovery in the first month of the current fiscal year, rising by 16.91 per cent — a sharp turnaround from the negative growth recorded in the previous month, according to data released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statis­tics (PBS) on Wednesday.

The export proceeds had declined 0.59pc in June 2025, -10.07pc in May and -7.36pc in April. However, the recovery in export proceeds in the month of July shows that demand for Pakistan’s exports has witnessed an upward trend.

In absolute term, the export proceeds reached to $2.69 billion in July 2025 from $2.31bn in the same month last year. On a month-on-month basis, the export proceeds grew by 8.88pc in July.

For the 12 months of FY25, export proceeds stood at $32.106bn in July-June as against $30.675bn during the same period last year, reflecting a 4.67pc increase. The export growth fell to a single digit in October and eventually turned negative in February 5.57pc, April 7.36pc, and May 10.07pc.

Export growth seen in March, with a modest 3.08pc increase, but it fell back to negative growth in the subsequent months.

Global buyers have recently shifted clothing orders from Bangladesh and China to Pakistan, creating an opportunity for local exporters to capture greater market share.

Trade deficit

According to the PBS data, imports surged by 29.25pc to $5.45bn in July 2025, up from $4.22bn in the same month last year. On a month-on-month, imports increased 12.37pc in July 2025.

Published in Dawn, August 7th, 2025

Opinion

Editorial

Doctor attacked
09 Jun, 2026

Doctor attacked

AN act of reprehensible violence has shaken the medical community. On Saturday, an employee of the Provincial Civil...
AJK flare-up
Updated 09 Jun, 2026

AJK flare-up

The situation started deteriorating after a trader affiliated with the JAAC was reportedly shot in an altercation with law-enforcers.
Fault lines
09 Jun, 2026

Fault lines

THE April 8 ceasefire that halted hostilities between Israel and Iran has encountered its most serious test yet....
Soft on traders
08 Jun, 2026

Soft on traders

THE Fixed Tax Asaan Scheme for traders with an annual turnover of up to Rs200m has been designed as a ‘pragmatic...
Ceasefire in name
Updated 08 Jun, 2026

Ceasefire in name

Both sides accuse the other of violating the truce that was supposed to halt the conflict in April, yet neither appears willing to abandon negotiations altogether.
Damaged childhoods
08 Jun, 2026

Damaged childhoods

CHILD abuse is so prevalent that the UN ranked Pakistan as the least safe country for children. Even so, more than...