Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan has underlined the need for diversifying export products and markets with a focus on high-value and non-traditional sectors. He also called for developing import substitution strategies to reduce reliance on food and energy imports.
The minister chaired a high-level meeting on Thursday to review Pakistan's trade performance during the first two months of the current financial year. Senior officials and representatives from relevant departments attended the meeting.
It was noted that Pakistan's exports remained stable at $5.11 billion during July-August 2025-26, despite challenging global conditions. The textile and apparel sector was the mainstay of exports with a 10% increase, reaffirming its role as a backbone of Pakistan's export economy.
Encouragingly, Pakistan's exports to Africa grew by 9% and to South Asia by 7%, while stable performance was recorded in North America and the European Union. These gains underscore the ongoing efforts to expand into new markets while consolidating the traditional ones.
It was observed that imports were mainly driven by higher requirements for energy, raw material and food items, indicating growing domestic economic activity. The minister emphasised that this trend provides opportunities for import substitution and investment in local manufacturing under the government's "Make in Pakistan" initiative.
He issued directions for strengthening export competitiveness and integration into global value chains, as well as expediting measures for value addition in textile, agriculture and manufacturing sectors.
The minister commended exporters for their resilience and reiterated the government's commitment to facilitating the business community.
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