Pakistan’s trade with five Central Asian countries declined sharply in FY26, with exports falling 4.1 per cent, as limited land connectivity and the closure of border trade stations with Afghanistan continued to constrain regional commerce.
Bilateral trade with Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan fell by 50.62pc to $219.125 million in FY26 from $443.712m in the previous fiscal year, largely due to a steep decline in imports.
Combined imports from the five countries plunged 88.35pc to $28.547m from $244.990m, while exports declined by a comparatively modest 4.1pc to $190.578m from $198.722m.
Kazakhstan remained Pakistan’s largest trading partner among the five Central Asian Republics (CARs), with bilateral trade amounting to $104.313m, down 54.22pc from FY25. Uzbekistan ranked second with trade worth $87.732m.
Tajikistan recorded the largest contraction in overall trade, which fell 69.56pc, followed by Turkmenistan with a decline of 61.36pc. Kyrgyzstan was the only country to post growth, with bilateral trade increasing 6.66pc.
Pakistan’s annual trade with the Central Asian region generally ranges between $400m and $500m, largely through Afghanistan. Uzbekistan has already implemented a transit trade agreement with Pakistan and has begun importing goods under the arrangement.
Exports to most of the five countries recorded negative growth during FY26, while imports from all five states declined compared with the previous year.
Pakistan’s exports to Turkmenistan fell 29.3pc to $1.183m in FY26 from $1.677m, while imports dropped 64.59pc to $5.868m from $16.572m.
Exports to Uzbekistan declined 17.95pc to $75.613m from $64.107m, while imports plunged 84.68pc to $12.11m from $79.125m.
Exports to Kazakhstan stood at $97.888m, marginally down from $98.244m a year earlier. Imports from the country dropped sharply to $6.425m from $129.628m.
Pakistan’s exports to Kyrgyzstan edged up to $4.027m from $3.995m, while imports increased to $843,000 from $571,000.
Exports to Tajikistan fell 61.34pc to $11.867m from $30.699m, while imports declined 82.76pc to $3.292m from $19.094m.
