Islamabad, Aug 25, 2026: Pakistan is stepping up country-specific export planning, with the Commerce Ministry directing its Foreign Trade Wings to prepare detailed action plans identifying priority products, potential buyers and specific barriers in individual markets.
The plans will examine market-access barriers, logistics and banking challenges, potential buyers and pending institutional engagements. Officials have also been directed to identify new opportunities for Pakistani rice, textiles, agricultural products, pharmaceuticals, processed food, light engineering goods and services.
Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan directed the initiative during an internal meeting with the ministry's Foreign Trade Wings to review export performance, bilateral trade engagements and progress on trade agreements. He also called for closer coordination among the Commerce and Foreign Affairs ministries, overseas missions, chambers of commerce and trade associations.
“Pakistan’s exporters have demonstrated strong potential in both traditional and emerging markets. Our focus must be on removing barriers, diversifying exports and converting every trade engagement into measurable economic gains,” Khan said.
Export Growth Remains Uneven
The initiative follows weaker merchandise-export performance during the first nine months of FY2025-26. The Pakistan Economic Survey 2025-26 reported goods exports of $22.7 billion during July-March, compared with $24.7 billion in the same period a year earlier. It said the decline was driven mainly by weaker food exports, particularly rice, while textile exports remained broadly stable.
The Economic Survey said measures to improve export competitiveness, diversify markets and facilitate value-added sectors were expected to support a gradual improvement in export performance.
Pakistan's exports rose to $2.939 billion in July 2026, up 9.54% from $2.683 billion in July 2025, according to provisional Pakistan Bureau of Statistics data. Imports increased to $6.887 billion from $5.837 billion, producing a July trade deficit of $3.948 billion, compared with $3.154 billion a year earlier.
Businesses Want Removal of Export Bottlenecks
The move comes as business organisations have called for measures to strengthen Pakistan's export competitiveness and expand access to foreign markets.
The Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) called in its proposals for the 2026-27 federal budget for restoration of the Final Tax Regime for exporters, saying its withdrawal had created operational bottlenecks and increased compliance requirements for the export sector.
The Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) has also called for measures to strengthen export competitiveness. In its assessment of the 2026-27 federal budget, KCCI Businessmen Group Chairman Zubair Motiwala said the budget lacked major incentives capable of boosting exports and improving Pakistan's competitiveness, while criticising the government's decision not to restore the Final Tax Regime for exporters.
Private Sector Sees Billions in Untapped Exports
The Pakistan Business Council (PBC) has separately proposed a targeted export-growth programme.
In July, PBC presented Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb with a time-bound export acceleration plan covering sectors including textiles, processed food and FMCG, pharmaceuticals, IT and ICT, mobile-phone manufacturing and rubber products.
potentially achievable in July–December 2026
PBC estimated that its proposals could generate $1.1 billion to $1.9 billion in incremental exports over 12 months, including $450 million to $700 million during July-December 2026, subject to timely government action on key policy measures.
Past Export Targets Fell Well Short
The Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) has raised questions about the implementation record of previous trade strategies.
Target: $35bn
Actual: about $20.5bn
Target: $57bn
Actual: about $32bn
SDPI said the Strategic Trade Policy Framework 2015-20 targeted exports of $35 billion by 2020, while actual exports were about $20.5 billion. The subsequent STPF 2021-26 targeted $57 billion by 2025, while exports reached only about $32 billion, according to the institute.
SDPI has called for an assessment of why the earlier strategies failed to meet their targets.
New Plans Shift the Focus to Individual Markets
Pakistan has previously used sector-specific export strategies under the Strategic Trade Policy Framework. TDAP says the National Priority Sectors Export Strategy covered 10 of the framework's 18 priority sectors, with the strategies developed through consultation with industry leaders.
The Commerce Ministry's latest directive places the emphasis on preparing detailed plans for individual foreign markets, including the products to promote, potential buyers and obstacles that need to be addressed.
The ministry also directed officials to regularly evaluate existing trade agreements to ensure they provide balanced and commercially meaningful benefits to Pakistan, while pending Joint Trade Committee and Joint Working Group meetings are to be expedited.
